Canfor Pulp symbolically broke ground Monday on the first of a slate of $160 million in projects meant to reduce pollution, increase energy efficiency and set the stage to grow its ability to produce bioenergy.
The first $10.7-million project at P.G. Pulp and Paper mill is meant to reduce odours from total reduced sulfur. Vapors in working areas that are currently vented through small stacks will be collected, condensed and then incinerated in a recovery boiler.
The project, and three others, will be tapping into $122 million in subsidies Canfor Pulp is eligible for from the federal government's green transformation program.
The $1-billion Green Transformation Program was announced by the federal Conservative government in 2009 to offset massive American subsidies that were already being utilized across the border.
The odour-reduction project at P.G. Pulp and Paper is expected to reduce total sulfur levels in the downtown area by 60 per cent.
"It will make a big difference. It should make us all proud," said Canfor Pulp's new president Joe Nemeth, stressing that 95 per cent of Canfor Pulp's employees are in Prince George.
The company already has engineering in place and has done some preliminary work, but will wait for for approval from Natural Resources Canada before purchasing equipment. The project is set to be complete within 12 months.
Nemeth was joined by senior company officials, employees, municipal leaders, officials from the B.C. Ministry of Environment and representatives from the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable.
"We're excited about the project," said mayor Dan Rogers, who said the project aligns with the city's goal of being a green, clean, safe community.
The city already endorsed the odour-reduction project in a letter of support to Natural Resources Canada.
