First Barge Carrying Project NextGen Components Arrives at Irving Pulp & Paper

Irving Pulp & Paper has reached a milestone in Project NextGen with the arrival of the first barge carrying major components for the initiative at the company’s westside mill in Saint John, New Brunswick.

The barge successfully navigated Saint John’s Reversing Falls as part of the delivery of large-scale equipment required for the US$1.5 billion project.

Project NextGen includes construction of a new recovery boiler to replace the mill’s existing unit, which was installed in the 1970s. According to Irving Pulp & Paper, the new equipment is expected to increase production by approximately 66 per cent while expanding the mill’s green energy capacity.

The delivery required coordination among marine crews, equipment operators and teams responsible for project planning and logistics. The company recognized the teams involved in managing the shipment and its arrival at the mill.

Irving Pulp & Paper said Project NextGen represents the largest investment in the Canadian forest products industry since 1993. The initiative is intended to modernize the Saint John mill and increase its production capacity.

The arrival of the first major components marks a further step in the delivery of equipment for the project as construction and modernization work progresses at the mill.