Northern Pulp proceeds with plan to reduce odour

Northern Pulp of Abercrombie Point, Nova Scotia, is proceeding with its plan to reduce its odour emissions. The detailed engineering phase of the project is set to move ahead in August.

The detailed engineering will help prepare for equipment purchases in the fall of this year. Construction is planned to begin in January, 2011 with start-up scheduled for the third quarter of that year.

“Our initial studies confirm we can reduce odour emissions produced during the pulping process by over 70%,”says Don Breen, Vice President Strategic Planning and Governmental Affairs, Northern Pulp. “We are now in a position to begin detailed engineering on three individual projects that, combined, will deliver on our commitment to local residents, neighbouring communities and the Province of Nova Scotia.”

The project, officially announced in March of 2010, will reduce the concentration of sulphur gases released from the mill. The engineering study identified three specific areas within the pulping process where emissions from sulphur-based chemicals can be captured and incinerated or treated.

The project as planned will cost approximately $8.5 Million and be completed by the end of 2011. “It’s a significant investment and an aggressive timeline,” says Breen, “but it’s the right thing to do. We have taken the appropriate steps to ensure it is the best solution.” Breen also points out that this is not the first project of its kind for the mill. “Although we have reduced the mill’s odour emissions dramatically since the 1980s, today’s technology allows us to further reduce the odour significantly. As the numbers get smaller, it gets more expensive and difficult to reduce but we are confident that this noticeable improvement is possible.”

Source: Northern Pulp