Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, 09 August 2011 -- A pulp mill in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, that was shuttered in 2006 is expected to begin producing dissolving pulp September 2012. The mill was purchased by Paper Excellence, a unit of Sinar Mas, in March, and will operate as Prince Albert Pulp Inc.

Production was planned to start sooner, but it's taking the company longer than expected to get the new equipment for the conversion, according to Ed Roste, Paper Excellence vice president. "The delivery time on the equipment is pretty long because it's made in western Canada and all the fabricating shops are pretty busy, so we find that the schedule has slipped a couple months already."

Paper Excellence also is in preliminary talks with SACAW, the group that controls the allocation of wood in the area, according to news reports.

"We have to develop more commercial relationships with all the shareholders in order to secure fiber for the mill. That's a large process that will take place over the next 12 to 16 months," Roste said.

Once operational, the mill will employ 250 people. There are now 20 employees at the mill.