BC Government takes over pulp millThursday 5 Feb 2009 The B.C. government has taken over operation of the Mackenzie pulp mill - and a potential C$50-million clean-up bill - to prevent an environmental disaster after the mill's Alberta owner stopped paying employees and transferred the company to an address in Slovenia. Workers describe the mill as being so badly maintained that they are scrounging from empty oil cans to find enough fuel to keep machinery operating. They are owed 12 days' wages and if they leave, systems that keep toxic chemicals safe would freeze in -20 C temperatures.Initially, the province intends to keep the pulp mill in a "warm shutdown" mode, keeping the plant's sensitive electronics and volatile chemicals from freezing. For the long term, the government is seeking third party advice "in the event that it has to continue to participate in the site over the long term. At this stage it's too early in the crisis to determine how deeply the province intends to get involved, but it could be a long-term obligation. It could be stuck with a clean-up bill of C$30 million to C$50 million. Source: TLA |
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