MONTREAL, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Resolute Forest Products Inc.
(NYSE: RFP) (TSX: RFP) today officially inaugurated a major power
island producing green energy at its pulp and paper operation located
in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The power island includes a refurbished and
upgraded woodwaste boiler and a new 65-megawatt condensing turbine.
Approved by Resolute in early 2011, the C$65 million project took just
over 21 months to complete.
"The power island is a strategic addition to Resolute's Thunder Bay
facility," stated Richard Garneau, President and Chief Executive
Officer. "It will reduce the mill's energy costs as well as maximize
our local woodlands, sawmill, pulp and paper, and energy operations by
fully utilizing forest-based biomass to produce green electricity."
The green power produced will be sold to the Ontario grid under a power
purchase agreement between Resolute and the Ontario Power Authority.
To mark the inauguration, a ceremonial "throwing of the switch" was held
earlier today involving key Company and government representatives.
Richard Garneau and Resolute Chairman of the Board Richard B. Evans
were joined by a number of government dignitaries, including: Ontario
Minister of Northern Development and Mines and MPP, Thunder
Bay-Superior North, the Honourable Michael Gravelle; Member of
Provincial Parliament for Thunder-Bay-Atikokan Bill Mauro; and Mayor of
Thunder Bay Keith Hobbs. Resolute employees and local community leaders
also attended the event. The project received support from the Ontario
Government's Forest Sector Prosperity Fund, as well as from the Federal
Government's Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program.
"This project is consistent with Resolute's focus on optimizing our
network to reduce costs as well as investing in projects that improve
our competitive position and are aligned with a sustainable future,"
added Garneau.
Although he could not attend the inauguration, the Honourable David
Orazietti, Ontario Minister of Natural Resources, sent a statement to
mark the occasion: "The investment by Resolute in its turbine at
Thunder Bay is a key commitment by the company to support the future
viability of the Thunder Bay pulp and paper operation. I am pleased to
see that the government's offer of access to additional wood supply
through the 2010 wood supply competition has helped support Resolute's
investment in its turbine, and that this government provided C$9.6
million towards this important green energy project that is integral to
Resolute's pulp and paper complex in Thunder Bay."
"This is certainly an important investment that will ensure Resolute
Forest Products remains a strong global force in the pulp and paper
industry while continuing to contribute to the Thunder Bay economy.
This new power island will significantly reduce their impact on the
environment, and I'm thrilled that our government was able to help
support this project," stated Michael Gravelle, Ontario Minister of
Northern Development and Mines and MPP, Thunder Bay-Superior North.
"This project helps to position the Resolute Forest Products mill in
Thunder Bay as one of the most strategic assets - if not the most
strategic - in their entire North American network," stated Member of
Provincial Parliament for Thunder-Bay-Atikokan Bill Mauro. "I am happy
that our government programs are able to support the private sector
investment by Resolute in the Thunder Bay operation, which is now very
well-positioned to support its employees, its customers and the Thunder
Bay economy for years to come."
"The City of Thunder Bay strives to be clean, green and beautiful," said
Keith Hobbs, Mayor of Thunder Bay. "We thank Resolute for embracing
these principles and congratulate them on this innovation that
demonstrates their commitment to sustainability."
About Resolute Forest Products
Resolute Forest Products is a global leader in the forest products
industry with a diverse range of products, including newsprint,
commercial printing papers, market pulp and wood products. The Company
owns or operates over 40 pulp and paper mills and wood products
facilities in the United States, Canada and South Korea, and power
generation assets in Canada. Marketing its products in close to 90
countries, Resolute has third-party certified 100% of its managed
woodlands to at least one of three internationally-recognized
sustainable forest management standards, including 65% certified to the
Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) standards. The shares of Resolute Forest Products trade under the
stock symbol RFP on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Toronto
Stock Exchange.
Resolute and other member companies of the Forest Products Association
of Canada, as well as a number of environmental organizations, are
partners in the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement. The group works to
identify solutions to conservation issues that meet the goal of
balancing equally the three pillars of sustainability linked to human
activities: environmental, social and economic. Resolute is also a
member of the World Wildlife Fund's Climate Savers program, in which
businesses establish ambitious targets to voluntarily reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and work aggressively toward achieving them.
SOURCE Resolute Forest Products Inc.