By Brent Bosker

Deal in works to reopen pulp mill

Nov 9, 2010 | 4:41 PM

There appears to be renewed interest in the shuttered Prince Albert pulp mill.

paNOW has obtained a copy of the email that has gone out to former mill employees that says there’s a possibility of the Domtar-owned facility being sold to an Asian company called Asia Pulp and Paper.

The email from Anibal Bravo, President of Communication Energy and Paper Workers Local 1120 includes the words “Let’s get back to Work”.

It requests members still in recalls, to attend two important union meetings this coming weekend where a tentative agreement with APP will be presented to the membership and voted on.

Under labour laws, the union would need to be involved in any attempt to reopen the mill.

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Meantime both the province’s Energy Minister and Mayor Jim Scarrow have said they are unaware of any discussion between Domtar and APP.

Premier Brad Wall alluded to developments in the local forestry sector when he appeared at luncheon for the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce. He said there had been talks with interested parties, but declined to go into specifics when asked about the situation.

Meanwhile, Domtar is actively attempting to discredit the rumors.

“We just wanted to make sure that it’s clear that we’re not in discussions with APP,” said Public Affairs Manager Bonnie Skene in a phone interview with paNOW.

Skene said they continue to do the preliminary work required for demolition – while at the same time holding an open dialogue with the province about various options for the facility.

“We’re not in any discussions with any third party,” said Skene.

Despite comments to the contrary, the union letter says details of the agreement will be released prior to the meeting on Saturday.

Some 700 people lost their jobs when Weyerhaeuser closed the mill in 2006.

Asia Pulp and Paper is known for its purchase of the shuttered Meadow Lake pulp mill several years ago.

bbosker@panow.com