|
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
|
|
|
|
Temp:
|
-9°C
|
|
Feels like:
|
-15°C
|
|
Humidity:
|
N/A%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wood deal signed with China |
|
|
Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
|
|
Friday, 14 November 2008 |
B.C. signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday with China that will support an $8-million wood-frame building project to assist in reconstruction efforts following last May's earthquake in the Wenchuan area in central China.
Participating in the signing event were B.C. Forests Minister Pat Bell, and Robert Wright, Canada's ambassador to China.
The Canada-B.C. Wenchuan earthquake reconstruction project was first announced last summer and focuses on construction of community facilities. The first three projects include a primary school, and elder care centre and a rehabilitation centre and school for the disabled. All the buildings are located in the heart of the quake zone. British Columbia is contributing $5 million and Canada another $3 million.
"It is important to focus our efforts on where they are needed most, while demonstrating that North American wood-frame construction can meet the unique mix of building styles in China," said Bell, who is on a week-long trade mission with a dozen B.C. forest industry representatives.
On the trip with Bell are industry leaders like Canfor president and CEO Jim Shepard and West Fraser president and CEO Hank Ketchum. Canfor and West Fraser have extensive operations in B.C.'s Northern Interior, including in Prince George, Vanderhoof and Quesnel.
Canfor has started to ship low-grade lumber to China, and sees an opportunity to move into higher grades if wood-frame construction can be introduced into China. West Fraser is also shipping lumber to China, but has said the volumes are small.
Bell has been on a push to open the Chinese market to B.C. solid-wood products as a key measure to help diversify the forest sector. He has highlighted the fact that B.C. lumber exports to China have been increasing in the past few years and could hit 1 billion board feet this year, about six per cent of B.C.'s average annual output over the past decade.
The B.C. government said FII Consulting Co. Ltd., based in Shanghai, is working with Chinese government officials and local experts to design and construct new community facilities, and will buy the Canadian wood required for this project.
The Canada Wood Group, a consortium of industry associations, will provide technical support and training in wood-frame construction, added the province. The organizations are meant to work together to ensure the wood-frame structures meet local needs.
The public facilities built through this project will be constructed from 100 per cent high-quality Canadian wood, said the province. Studies have demonstrated that wood-frame buildings are a highly suitable construction choice for earthquake-prone regions because of their adaptability and seismic stability when used in compliance with proven construction techniques, said the province.
Wood construction products also have a smaller carbon footprint than other materials, such as steel and concrete, added the B.C. government.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 14 November 2008 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 130 guests and 6 members online
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
