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Canfor has begun the process of reopening its sawmill in Radium, B.C., and says bioenergy has been key for the company to get the operation up and running again.

Canfor’s Radium mill was shut down in 2009 along with similar operations in Kamloops and Prince George, but the company is now spending $38 million to build a new planer and convert the mill from running on gas to bioenergy.

“Replacing the cost of propane to operate dry kilns is a significant part of this,” said Canfor spokeswoman Christine Kennedy.

Planners are on site, working on the design of the new mill. Canfor will build a cogeneration plant that uses waste wood instead of propane to dry the lumber.

Canfor hopes to have the sawmill back up and running by early 2013, a relief to the hundreds of workers left unemployed when the mill shut down.

From CBC News: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/05/02/bc-canfor-radium-bioenergy.html