A Vancouver-based wood pellet company has re-ignited northwest B.C.’s forestry sector.
The company, Pacific BioEnergy, celebrated the grand opening of its Kitwanga sawmill near Terrace last week, signalling a sign of life in a part of the province hit hard by the forestry sector downturn.
Pacific BioEnergy vice-president Brad Bennett said the mill, which the company bought in 2009, has generated 90 new direct and indirect jobs for the northwest.
“We thought it was important that at some point, to show we were committed to the region and our employees, that we start the facility,” Bennett told Business in Vancouver.
The mill was closed in 2008 and thousands of workers exited the forestry sector as the U.S. market, B.C.’s primary customer, collapsed.
Premier Christy Clark was on hand last week to celebrate the re-opening.
“After more than two years of inactivity, it’s great to see the Kitwanga sawmill back in business, providing much-needed jobs for families in the northwest,” said Clark.
Forests Minister Steve Thomson said the re-opening of Kitwanga was the best news the northwest B.C. forest sector had received “in quite some time.”
Pacific BioEnergy’s primary asset is a wood pellet mill in Prince George.
Bennett said the sawmill provided the company with a “beachhead” that will strengthen its overall bottom line.
The company has secured another site near Kitwanga to build a second pellet mill, which would further strengthen the sawmill.
Bennett said the company hopes to make an announcement regarding that project in a matter of months.
Joel McKay
Twitter:jmckaybiv