Richmond, BC (News release) - Paper Excellence provided an update on skilled labor shortages in British Columbia that are impacting the company's ability to execute many of its planned shutdowns on time.

The company has been dealing with delays due to shortages of skilled pressure vessel welders at its Crofton facility which will impact the length of the shutdown resulting in incremental lost pulp production due to the delays. The company is concerned that similar shortages will impact upcoming shutdowns at Howe Sound and Skookumchuck. The company currently expects a loss of about 10,000 tonnes of NBSK pulp production in total across all three sites.

Paper Excellence remains committed to its customers and can supply pulp products from its other unaffected mills during these delays.