AbitibiBowater plans $55 million investment at Augusta Newsprint mill in Georgia

By James McLaren, Senior Editor, PPI Pulp & Paper Week, RISI

SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2011 (RISI) - AbitibiBowater plans to invest $55 million in new equipment at its Augusta Newsprint mill in Georgia, according to a local media report citing the local Development Authority of Richmond County.

The agency unanimously approved a bond resolution for the issuance of industrial revenue bonds WJBF-TV reported.

An attorney for the mill said the company plans to modernize with a two phase project for equipment to pre-treat pre-production materials for newsprint production and for equipment for a more energy efficient paper drying system.

The mill dates to 1966, has capacity for 452,000 tons/yr of standard newsprint on two machines and employs about 330 workers.

AbitibiBowater in January executed a longstanding plan to buy out the minority shareholder in Augusta Newsprint, Woodbridge International Holdings.