Catalyst Paper’s mill in Crofton will receive $5.85 million from the province’s CleanBC Industry Fund to improve the efficiency of its black-liquor evaporation process and reduce natural-gas use for its onsite steam boilers.
As part of the CleanBC Industry Fund’s third round of investment, the province has announced a number of successful projects in five pulp mills, four of which are owned by Paper Excellence, including the Crofton mill, and other projects in B.C. that will support the adoption of cleaner technologies and reduce emissions in sectors like pulp and paper, mining, oil and gas and others.
The projects at the Crofton mill are expected to reduce more than 289,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from the facility.
Graham Kissack, Paper Excellence’s vice president of environment, health and safety and corporate communications, said programs like the CleanBC Industry Fund are helping industry achieve British Columbia’s ambition for a low carbon future.
“Separate from the economic impact these mills have in their local communities, our products are spearheading carbon reduction every day. Our paper and pulp products are made from a renewable resource that often displace existing plastic products.”
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Nanaimo Forest Products’ Harmac mill in Nanaimo is also receiving CleanBC funds of $12,075,000 to install processing, control, and dust collection upgrades to the mill’s biomass boiler system to lower natural gas consumption.
Another of Paper Excellence mills, Catalyst Port Alberni got $323,100 to improve its hog wood waste feed equipment to fire their steam boilers.
The funds are supported by more than $70 million in carbon tax revenues paid by industry.
Environment Minister George Heyman and Forests Minister Katrine Conroy announced the latest round of the funding on Monday, Jan. 31.
Heyman said that the three rounds of industry funding will reduce B.C.’s total greenhouse gas emissions by six million tonnes, equivalent to taking 130,000 vehicles off the road for 10 years.
Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcolmson and Nanaimo-North Cowichan MLA Doug Routley said people will benefit from the new projects in Crofton and Nanaimo that will invest in clean technology, reduce climate pollution and support local jobs.
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“After the extreme weather we have seen in the past year, it’s more clear than ever that we need to focus on addressing climate change,” said Routley.
“I am grateful for the leadership that local industry partners like Catalyst Paper and Nanaimo Forest Products have shown in addressing climate change while continuing to provide good paying, family supporting jobs in our community. As part of CleanBC, our government is committed to working with industry to transition operations so that workers are not displaced in the process, and the funding announced today reflects this commitment.”
The CleanBC Industry Fund is one part of the province’s plan to reduce emissions from industry, which includes aiming to eliminate all industrial methane by 2035, integrating emissions goals in the oil and gas royalty system, supporting electrification through BC Hydro, and making all new industrial developments “net-zero ready”.
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The fund is an important part of the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, which is B.C.’s plan to expand and accelerate climate action by building on the province’s natural advantages; which include abundant, clean electricity, innovative technology and a highly skilled workforce.
“We need all hands on deck for the climate crisis, so we are working with partners to switch to cleaner technologies, in Nanaimo and across B.C.,” said Malcolmson.
“By investing in these projects to reduce emissions, we are accelerating B.C.’s transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Recipients for the third round of funding also include Paper Excellence’s Howe Sound Pulp and Paper in Port Mellon and the company’s Skookumchuck Pulp north of Kimberley, as well as Mercer Celgar in Castlegar.
In addition, the City of Vancouver will get $1.47 million to expand its landfill gas-capture program at the municipal landfill at Burns Bog in Delta, Newcrest’s Red Chris copper and gold mine in Northwest B.C. will receive $448,243 to connect to the B.C. Hydro energy grid, disconnecting a diesel generator used to run water pumps, and CertainTeed Canada will get $1.4 million for a heat exchanger on a gypsum board driver at its manufacturing site.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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