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Whitecourt Pulp among IFIT funding recipients

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Joe Oliver, announced in early April a total of $30.4 million in federal funding to further support the transformation of the forest industry through innovation and market expansion.

“By encouraging the development and commercialization of innovative Canadian technologies and next-generation forest products, our government is helping to unleash the tremendous potential of our forests and creating jobs across the country,” said Minister Oliver.

While addressing forest industry stakeholders at the annual Council of Forest Industries (COFI) convention, Minister Oliver announced an investment of $19.5 million in five projects in Western Canada under the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program.

One of the projects to receive IFIT funding is a green energy project at Millar Western Forest Products’ Whitecourt pulp mill in Alberta. The project will receive $6.75 million. Whitecourt Pulp will generate green energy from pulp mill effluent by using innovative anaerobic hybrid digester technology. It is the first time this technology has been used in Canada’s forest sector on a commercial scale.

Minister Oliver also announced $10.9 million in funding for the 2013–14 Expanding Market Opportunities Program, including support for a Canadian wood products trade office in India.

The Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program supports Canada’s forest sector in becoming more economically competitive and environmentally sustainable through targeted investments in innovative technologies. This most recent announcement

includes funding for five projects across Western Canada. Each represents a Canadian-first or in many cases, a world-first application of new technology.

Another IFIT participant is Tekle Technical Services (TTS) of Drayton Valley, Alta. The company will receive $4.5 million toward the creation of Canada’s first facility to manufacture engineered biocomposite fibre mats made with Canadian-developed processes. Lightweight, renewable biocomposite fibre mats can be used to make dozens of products including compression-moulded panels for the automotive industry.

For more information on the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation Program, visit www.forest-transformation.nrcan.gc.ca.