Sinclar Group Forest Products Ltd. announced it will be temporarily reducing production at its mills in Prince George, Vanderhoof and Fort St. James starting on April 25.
Production at Lakeland Mills, Nechako Lumber and Apollo Forest Products will be reduced from a five-day week to a four-day week, a statement issued by the company on Thursday said. Lakeland Mills in Prince George employees roughly 100 people. The mill was rebuilt following an explosion and fire in 2012 which killed two people.
“We’ve held off making this decision as long as possible,” Sinclar president Greg Stewart said in a press release. “But like most companies in B.C., we’re facing increasing uncertainty of fibre supply, while at the same time experiencing challenges moving lumber due to supply chain bottlenecks.”
The company’s Premium Pellet operation in Vanderhoof and Winton Homes operation in Prince George will continue to run as normal. The production curtailment at Lakeland Mills won’t impact the operation of the Prince George Downtown Renewable Energy System, the company added.
Sinclar’s management will monitor the market conditions and make adjustments as needed, the statement said.
“As a third-generation, family-run company, operating in the Central Interior, the decision we’ve had to make today was incredibly hard,” Stewart said. “Everyone who works for our company lives and works in these communities, and we are determined to get through this difficult period, and emerge stronger and more resilient.”
