DMI in Alberta
Peace River Pulp Division
Situated 16 kilometres (km) north of the Town of Peace River and some 489 km northwest of Edmonton, in the province of Alberta, the Peace River pulp mill employs 350 people and produces 480,000 air-dried metric tonnes (ADMT) of kraft pulp. The pulp mill was the first of Alberta's new generation of pulp mills and pioneered the production of hardwood pulp in northwestern Alberta. It is designed to minimize the impact on the environment and utilizes previously uneconomical hardwood timber and residual softwood chips purchased from sawmills in the area.
The pulp mill combines minimum staffing and supervision with the most advanced technology in an atmosphere dedicated to cost-effective production of high quality market pulp and the achievement of personal job satisfaction. Peace River Pulp is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace.
Typically, one quarter (1/4) of the total production is softwood pulp and three quarter (3/4) is hardwood pulp for sale to the world market. Hardwood pulp, blended with or without softwood pulps makes an excellent printing and writing grade of paper, providing bulk and a good printing surface.
Milestones
September 2010
DMI Peace River Pulp Division celebrates its 20th year anniversary of operation.
July 2010
Minister of State Rob Merrifield announces that DMI Peace River Pulp Division will receive $40.57 million under the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program for a Green Power Enhancement Project. The project is designed to generate clean, green energy from high-pressure steam and convert it to electricity for export. See attached News Release.
October 2009
DMI is very pleased to announce that it has successfully renewed its Forest Management Agreement (“FMA”) with the Government of Alberta. Under this renewal the original forest management area has been split in two to form what are now referred to as the West and East FMA's. The Agreement's commence on the first day of July, 2009 and expire on the last day of April, 2029.
September 2009
DMI becomes a member of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC).
February 2009
PRPD is the recipient of the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board 2008 Employer of the Year Award for excellence in apprenticeship and industry training in the North Region.
September 2008
Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., Peace River Pulp Division, was named a EnviroVista Leader for its fourth straight year, in recognition for outstanding environmental performance. This voluntary program provides Alberta industrial and manufacturing facilities and municipal water operations with recognition for their environmental excellence. View a short video on this program. To qualify as an EnviroVista Leader, a facility must demonstrate a minimum five years of approved emissions performance, have an audited environmental management system in place and no Alberta Environment prosecutions in the past five years. To remain an EnviroVista Leader, program participants have to renew their status every year.
June 2008
PRPD celebrates 4 years with no Loss Time Accidents (LTA)
January 2008
Seven million tonnes of pulp produced
May 2007
DMI is proud to support construction of the Centre of Medical Excellence with a pledge of $100,000. The facility will house a new state-of-the-art medical clinic, with the ability to accommodate up to 18 doctors. In addition to the clinic, the Centre will provide much needed space for other community partners and services such as Community Mental Health, AADAC, hotel-style rooms for hospital patients and their families, and apartments for veterinary and medical students during their training.
October 2006
The PRPD successfully completes the external 12-month Surveillance Audit for ISO 9001:2000 standard
September 2006
Japan's ambassador to Canada, Mr. Sadaaki Numata, along with the Japanese Consul of Economic Affairs, Mr. Akihito Takanashi, and the First Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tomoyoshi Yahagi, visit the Peace River Pulp Division and also to gain a better understanding of the Peace region's natural resources. "Forestry has always been an important factor in the economic relationship between Japan and Canada" said Mr. Numata. The Japanese investment in DMI is seen as a blueprint for future investment world-wide.
August 2006
Alberta Human Resources and Employment selected PRPD for the Work Safe Alberta 2005 Best Safety Performer Award for exceptional performance in workplace health and safety.
August 2005
Forest Resources Business Unit successful in achieving ISO 14001:2004 Certification
PRPD receives recertification for Alberta Forest Products Association FORESTCARE
Environment
In a win-win situation for both the mill and the agricultural community around the mill, just over 5000 tonnes of biosolids from the mill's effluent treatment facility was applied to farmers' fields. The application of this by-product to agricultural fields provides the farmers with a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer and should improve soil tilth.
During Environment Week in June, DMI was honoured for its outstanding environmental performance by being accepted as one of the inaugural members of the Alberta Government's EnviroVista Program.
January 2005
Aspen furnish 100% from portable chipping
August 2005
Alberta Human Resources and Employment selected PRPD for the Work Safe Alberta 2004 Best Safety Performer Award for exceptional performance in workplace health and safety.
February 2004
Environmental Management System ISO 14001:1996 certified
December 2003
Quality Management System upgraded to the ISO 9001:2000 Standard
September 2002
Installation of Kappa and Brightness measuring devices in the bleach plant
September 2002
Digester upgraded to Down Flow Lo Solids operation
April 2002
Started portable bush chipping program
July 1999
DMI's Peace River Pulp Forest Management Agreement amended until 2009
November 1998
Peace River Pulp converts to 100% elemental chlorine-free pulp
June 1998
New daily production record set in June 1998 at 1360 air dried tonnes of pulp
October 1996
DMI initiates the Ecological Management by Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) Research Project on 1,000 hectares north of Peace River
October 1996
Peace River Pulp passes independent audit and becomes FORESTCARE certified and is rated "Alberta State of the Art" in three of 11 categories
July 1995
DMI and Canfor sign a Forest Management Partnership Agreement to begin ecological management pilot on 700,000 hectares in the P1 and P2 area
January 1994
One million tonnes of pulp produced
December 1993
ISO 9001 certification achieved
July 1990
Successful start-up of the pulp mill in July 1990
September 1989
Daishowa's first Forest Management Agreement for 2.9 million hectares (29,000 square kilometres) is signed with the province of Alberta
April 1988
Ground work begins
February 1988
Peace River Pulp project receives environmental and licenses approvals
March 1987
Alberta Government and Daishowa announce pulp mill project
