Irving Pulp & Paper has marked a delivery milestone for Project NextGen, with the first barge carrying major components passing through Saint John’s Reversing Falls on its way to the mill’s modernization site.
A video shared by Irving Pulp & Paper documents the passage. The company credited marine crews, equipment operators and planning and logistics teams with coordinating the operation.
The announcement did not identify the components aboard the barge or disclose their dimensions, weight or origin.
New recovery boiler to expand production
The delivery supports Project NextGen, which includes replacing the west Saint John mill’s recovery boiler, installed in the 1970s. According to Irving, the larger boiler will enable an approximately 66 per cent increase in pulp production.
The modernization also includes a steam turbine and generator to supply renewable electricity for mill operations and deliver surplus power to New Brunswick’s grid. Construction began in 2025, with completion expected in 2028.
Financing supports mill modernization
The Canada Infrastructure Bank announced a $660-million loan for the project in September 2025. The bank says the upgrades will make the mill energy self-sufficient and eliminate its use of heavy fuel oil as an energy source.
The barge shipment marks progress in equipment delivery as construction continues toward the installation and eventual commissioning of the new systems.
Irving Pulp & Paper operates a kraft pulp mill in Saint John, New Brunswick. The company is part of J.D. Irving, Limited, a diversified group with operations in forestry, forest products, agriculture, transportation and other industries.
