Drax to shut B.C. wood pellet plant by year’s end, says not ‘commercially viable’
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
WILLIAMS LAKE – A company operating a wood pellet plant in the British Columbia Interior says the facility will be shuttered by the end of the year due to a lack of available fibre.
U.K.-based Drax, which has faced accusations it burns old-growth B.C. timber for power generation in Britain, says it is shutting the Williams Lake plant due to closures and curtailments at nearby sawmills, as well as “the loss of a bid for key local supply.”
The company says the reduction in fibre availability means the plant is “no longer commercially viable,” and operations will be wound down until existing supply runs out.
Drax, which has operations across B.C. and Alberta, says 30 workers are employed at the Williams Lake facility, and a support plan is being implemented in light of the closure announcement.
Environmental group Stand.earth has accused of burning 250-year-old B.C. trees, while Drax said this week that some of its fibre comes from “low-grade roundwood,” or logs, that would otherwise “likely be controllably burned.”
The Canadian forestry sector has been hard hit by what’s described as weak market conditions and economic uncertainty, including tariffs from the United States.
Last month, Interfor Corp. announced an increase to its planned lumber production cuts across its operations for the fourth quarter, including for its operations in B.C. and Ontario.
The situation has prompted Ottawa to announce a new suite of supports for the domestic sector, including an extra $500 million in loan guarantees for the softwood lumber industry.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2025.