Norske Skog may sell Mackenzie, B.C., pulp mill

Norske Skog Canada is divesting its Mackenzie pulp mill because its pulp production line and the location were not favorable to the company's strategic focus in terms of being a leading supplier of LWC papers. Unlike other mills it had recently acquired from the Fletcher Challenge Canada, Mackenzie's capacity of 230,000 mtpy of softwood kraft is a stand-alone operation. An aggressive program is under way to optimize these operation and the interface with adjoining paper mills. The Canadian subsidiary of Norway's Norske Skog Industrier ASA is the largest producer of lightweight printing papers. Mackenzie is one of the leaders in production of saw dust pulps. The mills long fiber pulps are highest strength in the world.