Tolko partners on US mill

Mar 2, 2018 | 2:53 PM

VERNON  — Tolko Industries is making its first venture into the United States.

The Vernon based company has partnered with Louisiana-based Hunt Forest Products to build a state-of-the-art sawmill near the community of Urania La.

Construction of the $115 million project is expected to start in April and be completed by December.

It will employ about 110 people and will produce southern yellow pine lumber from timber harvested in the surrounding area.

Brad Thorlaksonm Tolko’s President and CEO, says they are thrilled to be in Louisiana with Hunt Forest Products, a family-owned company like theirs.

“The scope of the project includes a 200 Million-board-foot facility that will consume approximately 850,000 tons of timber annually, three continuous dry kilns and a planer facility. Wood chips, sawdust, planer shavings and hog fuel will be contracted to Drax Biomass, which operates a 450,000-ton wood pellet facility adjacent to the sawmill,” says a Tolko release.

“We are excited to be bringing a high-tech sawmill, and the skilled jobs it will provide, to central Louisiana, and to provide a local outlet for the massive inventory of southern yellow pine that exists in this region,” said James D. Hunt, co-owner and vice chairman of the Board of Directors of Hunt Forest Products.