Fortress Paper

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After Fraser Papers Inc closed its Thurso pulp and paper mill in June 2009, Fortress Paper Ltd. bought the facility for a meager $1.2 million. Its subsidiary, Fortress Specialty Cellulose Inc., is converting this operation into a world class, low cost, specialty cellulose (dissolving pulp) operation. Concurrently, Fortress Paper intends to build a biomass-based 25-megawatt cogeneration plant at the Thurso Mill which will produce green electricity, resulting in net energy savings plus the sale of surplus power to Hydro Quebec.

Conversion of the mill will cost around $150 million. The specialty cellulose mill is planned to have an annual production capacity of more than 200,000 air dried metric tonnes and is expected to be completed in mid-2011.

Specialty cellulose is used in the manufacture of rayon, which is regaining popularity in fashionable clothing and as a substitute for cotton.