Freeman Lumber Scraps Decision to Close Nova Scotia Sawmill

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Freeman Lumber in Greenfield, N.S. decided to withdraw from its decision to close the province’s last major sawmill. Earlier in April this year, the company had announced permanent closure of the sawmill facility.

According to co-owner Richard Freeman, things had made drastic change early this month, with the sawmill west of Halifax confirming leads for chip sales. As a result, the sawmill has resumed log purchases and all its contractors are back in the woods. In addition, the sawmill has returned to its regular shift hours, he added. Furthermore, he noted that the company plans to set up a wood pellet operation within a period of 18 months, as part of its efforts to explore diversifying markets.

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Meantime, Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin noted that mills in the province were faced with the challenge of finding new chip markets, since the closure of the Northern Pulp mill in Abercrombie Point, following its failure to secure approval to build a new effluent treatment facility. The efforts to find new markets were badly impacted by COVID-19 pandemic spread. The company’s efforts were further complicated by geographical factors, Rankin said.

The decision is expected to save nearly 150 jobs and millions of dollars in the local economy in Queens County and surrounding areas.