Canada-based International Wood Industries (IWI) has revealed advanced plans for a CA$145 million “state-of-the-art sawmill and wood processing centre” which includes wood pellet production to be built in the Mattawa-Bonfield region in Ontario, Canada. The proposed Bonfield Sawmill Facility could begin construction in October with production start in early 2019.
According to information released by Mattawa-Bonfield Economic Development Corporation (MBEDC), the Ontario-based company has extensive experience in the forest products industry with IWI principals having operated a sawmill in Europe and having been involved in timber harvesting in Ontario and Quebec.
The proposed Bonfield Sawmill Facility will use both softwood and hardwood species to produce wood products such as lumber, mouldings and flooring with residuals used to produce pellets.
To be built on a 212 acre (≈ 86 ha) site with railway access potential in Bonfield, Ontario the project estimated is to cost CA$145 million. IWI has entered into a Letter of Intent (LoI) with undisclosed private sector funding partners for the development costs.
Furthermore, the project is currently contingent on receiving approval on numerous permits including a rezoning of the site from agriculture to a commercial/industrial use to accommodate the wood processing facility. IWI expects to have all these approvals in place by mid-September.
Providing this is achieved, IWI will proceed with the project and work will begin on site in October; with construction completed by December 2018 and hiring in place for a January 2019 startup.
