Fortress Cellulose Spécialisée

Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill produces dissolving pulp also known as specialty cellulose. Dissolving pulp is a chemically refined bleached pulp used in the production of rayon, a synthetic fibre. Fortress Specialty Cellulose also supplies green energy to Hydro-Quebec with its cogeneration plant. The mill is located in Thurso, Québec.

LOCATIONS

Company History

The Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill is located in Thurso Québec, 150 kilometers west of Montréal and is situated on approximately 800 acres of land. The company announced in December, 2011 that it had successfully completed the conversion of the mill from a former Northern Bleached Hardwood Kraft (NBHK) producer to a producer of dissolving wood pulp and commenced production. Fortress announced in October 2013 that the second phase of the Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill project, a new biomass-based cogeneration facility that will produce green energy, had completed the 100hr grid tests and was supplying power to Hydro Quebec at the contracted rate. Fortress Specialty has entered into an energy supply agreement with Hydro Québec to provide net 18.8 megawatts of green power to Hydro Québec over a 15 year term.

Company Facts

The mill employs approximately 336 workers and has a planned annual production capacity of ~ 200,000 tonnes (ADMT) of specialty cellulose also known as dissolving pulp. Dissolving pulp is a chemically refined bleached pulp that has unique properties, including a high purity of cellulose and uniform molecular-weight distribution. Dissolving pulps are used in a wide variety of applications such as the production of textile fibres (rayon), acetate, cellophane, tire filaments, filters and various chemical additives. It is also used by pharmaceutical companies and the food industry as a binding agent.
Fortress Specialty Cellulose has entered into an energy supply agreement with Hydro Québec to provide net 18.8 megawatts of green power to Hydro Québec over a 15 year term. In May 2014, the supply agreement was modified to 24 megawatts.