Baikal Pulp & Paper Plant started to cook brown rayon pulp

Oct 15, 2008. /Lesprom.com/. Baikal Pulp & Paper Plant (Irkutsk region, Russia, controlled by Continental Management Timber Processing Company) started to cook brown rayon pulp on Wednesday after a delay since early October, reported a representative of Continental Management. "The plant temporarily restarted production on Wednesday for about 3 to 7 days. During this time, Baikal PPP is going to produce about 500 tons of brown rayon pulp for China", he said. Brown rayon pulp is a new product for Baikal PPP. The plant used to produce bleached pulp only, its share in the total output was more than 50%. With closed-circuit water system being introduced in September, however, the plant stopped bleaching (water circuit technology does not provide for production of bleached pulp technically). Thus, since September Baikal PPP can only produce brown pulp. There were some announcements that such production is unprofitable. Baikal PPP top management promised to draw up new development plan and range of products till the end of the year. In early October Baikal PPP halted pulp production due to absence of raw materials. In accordance with the order of the General Director of the plant, Andrey Dribnyi, Baikal PPP halted production till October 31. This is "due to the crisis on the external market and temporary problems with payments for ready export products", as said in the order. Due to this about 2,000 workers were sent on a mandatory leave, trade union committee reports. Baikal PPP was built in 1966 on the southern shore of Lake Baikal. 49% of its shares is on the books of Rosimushchestvo (Russian Federal Property Management Agency), 51% is owned by Continental Management Timber Processing Company LLC. In 2007, pulp production volume at Baikal PPP amounted to 190,200 tons, profits - to 85.5 million roubles ($3.25 million).