Pellet & briquette plant officially opens

Aug. 10, 2010, Saint-Quentin, NB – Groupe Savoie
celebrated the grand opening of its new wood pellet and briquette
manufacturing plant at the end of July, thanks to assistance from the federal
and provincial governments. Premier Shawn Graham and Senator Percy Mockler
joined company representatives and members of the community as they toured the
facility and observed the equipment.

The new plant is built next to the company’s existing hardwood
operations in Saint-Quentin that will supply the sawdust, shavings, bark, and
wood chips needed to manufacture the wood pellets and briquettes. The new plant
will produce about 50,000 tons/year of pellets and 5,000 tons/year of
briquettes. Export sales are expected to reach more than $9 million.

“This new project fits perfectly in our vision—a company recognized for
adding maximum value to available forest resources,” says Jean-Claude Savoie,
president of Groupe Savoie.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA, is contributing $2 million
toward the project under the Community Adjustment Fund. The provincial
government is assisting the company with a non-repayable contribution and a
loan totalling $5 million for the $11-million project.