Pacific BioEnergy is restarting a sawmill in northwest B.C. on Monday, a planned precursor to building a new wood pellet mill near the site.
The pellet plant is meant to be modeled on Pacific BioEnergy's existing operation in Prince George, which uses residuals from sawmills like wood shavings and sawdust, and logging waste, to manufacture wood pellets, said company vice-president Brad Bennett.
The soon-to-be-opened sawmill in Kitwanga is meant to provide the raw waste material for the pellet plant, which is still in the midst of site selection and engineering.
"We are still pretty focused on bringing [the pellet plant] together. The timing we're not real firm on yet, but we're spending money to make it happen," said Bennett.
The wood pellet plant, if it's built at Kitwanga, 480 kilometres west of Prince George, would be the seventh pellet plant in northern B.C.
There are also wood pellet plants in Quesnel, Strathnaver, Vanderhoof, Houston and Burns Lake.
The sawmill will employ 45 people on one shift.
