International Paper will spend about $10 million to convert its Louisiana Mill in Bastrop, LA, to 100% market and fluff pulp production. Conversion of the mill will begin later this year with equipment upgrades to be completed by the fall of 2008.

"Moving the mill from paper to pulp production, combined with key cost reduction measures, makes strategic sense for us," said Wayne Brafford, senior vice-president of IP's printing and communications papers sector. "It allows us to operate the Louisiana mill competitively and meet global demand for our softwood and fluff pulp while reducing our uncoated freesheet capacity by about 250,000 tons."

The mill will stop produce uncoated freesheet such as office paper and envelopes, and other specialty papers. Instead, it will have the capacity to make up to 450,000 tons/y of primarily softwood pulp, used in tissue, towels, paper and packaging, as well as fluff pulp, used in diapers and personal hygiene products. Bristols production, used for products such as index cards and file folders, will be shifted to other IP mills.

IP had been exploring strategic alternatives for the Louisiana Mill, including possible closure, as part of its transformation plan, announced in 2005. www.internationalpaper.com. PI

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