Moscow. Nov 26, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Tolko Industries Ltd. announced the indefinite closure of its High Level Lumber Division in High Level, Alberta. The company has notified the employees and contractors at the lumber operation. Current log inventory will allow the sawmill to operate until December 18. The planer will continue to operate until mid-January when it will also shut down, the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network.

“While significant operational improvements have been made in a number of areas and the efforts of our employees and contractors are recognized, the reality is that we continue to be in the worst market conditions our industry has ever seen,” says Mike Harkies, Vice President & General Manager, Solid Wood & Kraft Paper.

“The current cost structure at High Level simply makes the continued operation of that mill not viable,” says Harkies. He went on to say, “a restart of the High Level operation is dependent on there being a sustained improvement in the economic conditions.”

This curtailment will remove 385 million board feet of lumber from the market.

Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia, with manufacturing operations across Western Canada.