Kruger has announced a temporary shutdown of newsprint production at its Corner Brook Pulp and Paper mill in Newfoundland and Labrador, citing critically low water levels at the Grand Lake reservoir that restrict energy supply from Deer Lake Power.
According to Darren Pelley, vice-president of special projects at Kruger, the mill requires sustained rainfall to restore reservoir levels before operations can resume. “We’ve missed a couple of months of major rain,” he said, noting that the current conditions represent historically low water levels.
The mill employs about 400 people, who will be reassigned to maintenance and other internal projects during the production pause. Kruger stated that operations will remain suspended until water conditions improve, but the duration remains uncertain.
This marks another disruption for the Corner Brook site, which temporarily halted activities earlier this year due to wildfires and fiber shortages. Previous short-term closures in 2023 and 2024 were tied to market realignment and safety compliance measures.
Earlier this year, Kruger unveiled a $700-million investment strategy to modernize the century-old operation, shifting focus toward lumber and chip production while progressively repositioning its newsprint capacity.
Despite current weather challenges, the company maintains that its modernization plans are on track and critical to securing the long-term future of the Corner Brook facility.
Located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper is a subsidiary of Kruger Inc. and one of Canada’s longest-operating newsprint producers. Established in 1925, the mill has been a cornerstone of the region’s economy for a century, employing about 400 people. It operates an integrated system that includes the Deer Lake Power hydroelectric facility, which supplies renewable energy to the mill.
