The idled sawmill in Ignace, owned by AbitibiBowater, will see a restart and upgrade over the next two years.

With an investment plan of $32 million, upgrades and construction will include the addition of an energy system and kilns to dry lumber, and a planer and packaging system to allow for the production of finished lumber ready for market. Engineering, design and construction activities will occur over the next two years, with a return to production forecast for 2014.

The investment is subject to the company reaching an acceptable labour agreement with the United Steelworkers Union and finalizing an agreement on municipal matters with the Township of Ignace.

“It’s certainly going to be a good thing for the community. They’ll be a couple years rebuilding it, but they are expected to open by 2014,” said Mayor of Ignace, Lee Kennard. “There are about 90 jobs at the mill itself, so that will probably turn into about 200 jobs for the total community. There will be cutting the woods, and the spinoff jobs.”

Kennard says the mill will have been idled three years this coming September and is looking forward to getting the community’s tax base back up.

Kennard said, “It was all brand new, they just rebuilt that mill, spent $17 million in it and ran for two and a half years on one shift, and closed it.”

“We are currently planning on a design and construction schedule running through 2012-13, and a return to full production in late 2013/early 2014. The sawmill will also contribute to improving the cost of fibre for our pulp and paper mills in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances,” said Yves Laflamme, Senior Vice President, Wood Products, Global Supply Chain and Information Technology.

Major forestry employer, Louie Ricci, also a native of Ignace, says the reopening of the mill is very good for the town of Ignace, and is hopeful

to work with Abitibi-Bowater.

By Ally Dunham