Kruger Inc. has revealed a significant investment of US$32.4 million aimed at enhancing its Kamloops Pulp Mill. This initiative is designed to introduce innovative technology that will diversify the company’s product offerings and penetrate rapidly growing markets. The investment is expected to bolster the competitiveness, performance, and environmental sustainability of Kruger Kamloops while securing approximately 340 jobs directly at the mill, alongside an estimated 1,000 indirect jobs across British Columbia.
The announcement was made during a press event at the Kruger Kamloops facility, attended by key figures including the honorable Brenda Bailey, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation; Eric Ashby, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kruger Inc.; Roman Gallo, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Kruger’s Pulp and Paper Division; and Irene Preto, general manager of the Kamloops Pulp Mill.
In support of this initiative, the governments of Canada and British Columbia are each contributing US$5 million through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, respectively.
The new pulp washing system being implemented at Kruger Kamloops is expected to enhance the plant’s efficiency while significantly decreasing the presence of inorganic materials and talc in the final product. Additionally, this process is projected to lead to a considerable reduction in the use of bleaching chemicals.
This advanced technology will incorporate cutting-edge controls and artificial intelligence capabilities to ensure that the pulp produced meets the highest standards for specialty products that require ultraclean pulp.
The project is anticipated to be completed by 2026, at which point Kruger Kamloops aims to increase its production of ultra-clean pulp from 43,000 metric tons in its first year to over 115,000 metric tons annually by the third year and beyond.
