SFK Pulp is restarting the Saint-Félicien mill ahead of Schedule

LONGUEUIL, QC, Dec. 17 /CNW Telbec/ - SFK Pulp Fund (TSX: SFK.UN) is currently starting up the Saint-Félicien mill to resume production on December 18 , being 4 days ahead of the date originally announced on December 11 . The shut-down of the mill was extended when additional repairs were required to the recovery boiler during the mill's semi-annual maintenance.

Thanks to the work of our Saint-Félicien teams and the cooperation of our key suppliers, the mill ultimately only reduced its fourth quarter production of NBSK pulp by 6,000 tonnes instead of the previously announced 10,000 tonnes due to these additional repairs. In addition, the mill managed to fulfill all of its customers' orders on schedule.

As indicated, the cost of these additional repairs will be covered by the company's insurance, net of the deductible.

About SFK Pulp

SFK Pulp (TSX: SFK.UN), a leader in the production and distribution of high-quality virgin and recycled kraft pulp, operates three mills located in Saint-Félicien, Québec, Fairmont, West Virginia, and in Menominee, Michigan. The SFK Pulp workforce totals a little over 500 employees. The company's annual production capacity reaches 745,000 metric tons. The Saint-Félicien mill provides northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (product known as NBSK pulp) to various sectors of the paper industry in Canada , the United States and Europe , for use in the production of specialized products. The Fairmont and Menominee mills manufacture air-dried recycled bleached kraft pulp (product known as RBK pulp) and primarily supply manufacturers of fine uncoated paper, household paper for commercial and industrial uses, and coated paper in the United States .

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For further information: Dany Paradis, Vice President, Change Management and Public Affairs, [phone], [email protected]