Conifex Timber Inc. has started operations at its recently-acquired sawmill in Mackenzie on a one-shift basis.
The startup puts about 60 to 70 people back to work, said company officials.
Output at the sawmill is estimated to be 110 million board feet. There are two sawmills at the site in Mackenzie, 175 kilometres north of Prince George, but the other sawmill remains idled.
At the same time as Conifex unveiled the restart of the Mackenzie mill, the Vancouver-based company announced it has hired Blair Mayes in the newly-created role of chief operating officer effective Nov. 15.
Mayes has been with Dunkley Lumber Ltd. for almost 30 years, most recently as general manager. Mayes is a forestry graduate of the University of British Columbia.
The company said that Mayes' main responsibilities will involve the oversight and continued development of its forestry and manufacturing facilities at Fort St. James and Mackenzie.
He is also meant to play an important role industry and community relations for the company.
Conifex recently purchased the Mackenzie sawmill operations from AbitibiBowater.
With sawmill purchases in Fort St. James and Mackenzie, Conifex now has a production base of 745 million board feet. Conifex CEO has said they would like to reach the 1 billion board feet mark with another sawmill purchase, although not likely in northern B.C.
The Mackenzie purchase included the former AbitibiBowater newsprint mill, where Conifex hopes to produce electricity from the 13.8-megawatt power plant.
