Feb 13, 2013. /Lesprom Network/. Citing sustained improvements in the US housing markets and increased customer demand, Brad Thorlakson president and CEO of Tolko Industries Ltd. announced that the company is proceeding with preparations to reopen its Athabasca mill in Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada. The oriented strand board (OSB) and engineered wood products mill, which was curtailed indefinitely in February 2009 due to poor market conditions, is expected to start production by the 1Q 2014, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. Thorlakson said, “Before we could commit to the significant financial and human resource investment required to restart the mill, we had to determine, to the greatest degree possible, that current improvements in market conditions are sustainable. We are confident about the future of the industry and look forward to positive years ahead. Reopening Athabasca confirms our commitment to meeting the needs of our customers through innovation and product development." Jim Baskerville, Tolko’s vice president OSB and Kraft Paper said, “Athabasca is a state-of-the-art facility with the longest continuous press in North America capable of producing high performance OSB and laminated strand lumber. We have carefully maintained the facility during the curtailment, and will be executing additional capital projects to ensure a successful restart. It could take between nine to twelve months from today’s announcement before the plant is readied for operation, all of the employees are hired, trained and production can begin. ” Once fully operational, the mill will employ approximately 150 people directly, a contractor logging workforce, and generate a large number of indirect employment opportunities in the community. “As we move toward full production, we will have a number of attractive positions available that we hope will not only entice previous employees to return, but bring new skilled employees to the site,” said Baskerville. He added, “We will be working closely with our local community, customers, contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders as we ready the mill for production. Slave Lake is a town of approximately 7,000 people located in northern Alberta in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River. Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia with approximately 2,900 employees. Tolko is a major producer and marketer of lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board, and kraft papers, with manufacturing operations in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.