Mackenzie, B.C. – The recent announcement of the boost to the annual allowable cut in the Mackenzie region  is being analyzed by  Conifex as the company  looks at making a decision  on its Mackenzie sawmill.

The  Deputy Chief Forester, Diane Nicholls, announced  the annual allowable cut  in the Mackenzie timber supply area has been  increased by  47.5% to  4.5 million  cubic metres.

While  the  increase is being welcomed,  Conifex Vice President Pat  Bell says  there are  restrictions  in that cut “There are restrictions on species, and in geographical areas, so  we  have our team  doing a detailed analysis to see  just exactly what it  could mean  for  our operations.”

The new AAC  sets a limit of  950,000 cubic meters to  non-pine coniferous trees, and stipulates slightly less than one third of that  amount  can come from  the southwest area of the  timber supply area.

Conifex has been looking  at three options to  increase the profitability  of its mills in Mackenzie:

• modernize and upgrade the site 2 mill that is in operation in Mackenzie

• restarting the idled site 1 sawmill at Mackenzie, or
• building a  new sawmill complex at the site one location.

Bell says while the AAC has been increased,   there had been hopes it would have been boosted by about 2 million cubic meters, instead of the announced 1.5 million cubic meters.

So, there is still no firm time frame on when a proposal may be brought to the Conifex Board for consideration, Bell says he is speculating, but, says “I would think we still have a couple of months of work ahead of us before we are ready to go to the Board.”