Companies Tolko and Pinnacle Renewable Energy have teamed up to open a wood pellet plant in High Level. Tolko President and CEO Brad Thorlakson says this project has many benefits including bringing jobs to the area.
“When commissioned, Northern Pellet Limited Partnership will reduce our carbon footprint. It will also secure and increase full-time permanent employment opportunities in the area, and allow us to use our bark, shavings, and sawdust to produce pellets for growing markets.”
Industrial wood pellets are used as a fuel source to power large generators. Construction on the project will start this July and is expected to be finished in the second half of 2020. It will be built next to Tolko’s current sawmill in High Level.
When it is complete it is expected the project will bring 25 more full-time jobs to the community. The estimated cost of the plant is $53 million.
Tolko manufactures a wide range of forest products including lumber and speciality wood products and Pinnacle is the third-largest wood pellet producer in the world with eight production facilities throughout western Canada.
