Temporary chemical storage and tank removal work point to preparations for a restart, although Nippon Dynawave has not announced when full production could resume.
Nippon Dynawave Packaging has begun work aimed at restarting its Longview, Washington, pulp and paper mill, nearly three months after the May 26 white-liquor tank failure that halted normal operations.
Crews began dismantling and removing three out-of-service tanks on August 17, including the damaged white-liquor tank. The company also plans to stage temporary tanks for white and black liquor, two essential streams in the kraft pulping and chemical recovery process. Nippon Dynawave said the temporary storage will be used for an operational restart.
However, no timetable for a full mill restart has been announced.
Importantly, Nippon Paper previously reported that no severe damage had been confirmed to major production equipment, including pulp-making machinery, boilers, paper machines and extruders. That could prove significant as the company evaluates the scope of work required to restore operations.
For the pulp and paper industry, the next development to watch will be when temporary chemical-handling infrastructure is commissioned and whether that allows a phased restart of pulp and paper production. A confirmed production schedule would provide a clearer picture of how quickly the Longview mill can return to normal operating conditions.
Nippon Dynawave Packaging, a subsidiary of Nippon Paper, operates an integrated mill in Longview, Washington, producing kraft pulp and fibre-based packaging products, particularly for liquid packaging markets. The site employs approximately 1,000 people and is one of Nippon Paper’s key production facilities in North America.
