The project is driven by a coalition of Nova Scotian partners who will be announced once formal agreements are finalized.
We propose constructing and operating a world-class, state-of-the-art bioproducts facility. The plant will produce kraft market pulp and green electricity while strictly adhering to Europe’s most stringent environmental standards.
We have identified a number of excellent sites on the Canso Strait in northeastern Nova Scotia which provide critical access for a deep-water port, and connectivity to rail, highways, natural gas and power transmission lines.
Atlantic Canada is blessed with one of the world’s best forest resources in terms of size and quality of fibre that has become underutilized in the past decade especially due to the closure of old sawmills and pulp and paper mills. Currently, sawmills only process 25% of standing timber into shipped lumber, which is not globally competitive on its own. A large consumer of residual wood chips and bark is needed to maintain the forest sector. Without it, there will be further permanent closures of sawmills and working forest harvests will decline.
The facility will manufacture market kraft pulp for global markets and green electricity sold onto the Nova Scotia Power grid. This power will reduce grid carbon by helping eliminate coal and natural gas generated electricity.
The facility will meet today’s highest environmental expectations, ensuring that impacts on neighboring communities are minimized.
Before any construction can begin, the project must undergo a comprehensive Nova Scotian Environmental Assessment and potentially a Federal Impact Assessment. This process requires rigorous public consultation, Indigenous consultation, formal review, and then approval from elected officials at both the provincial and federal levels.
NS Bioproducts is fundamentally different than Northern Pulp and Boat Harbour. It is proposed by Nova Scotian owners, as a new-build, high-standard, low-emission facility designed to deliver jobs, clean power, and forest-sector value while avoiding the environmental and social failures that made Northern Pulp unacceptable.
About half the wood supply will come from Nova Scotia while the remainder will come from New Brunswick North Shore, Quebec Gaspé Peninsula, Newfoundland, and Maine. Numerous studies have confirmed the availability of this wood as a long term, sustainable supply.
The estimated lifespan of the facility is designed for fifty years. Subsequent upgrades and modifications could extend that timeframe.