By Ian Holmes

Nanaimo chemical plant to close, putting 20 out of work

Oct 10, 2017 | 2:44 PM

NANAIMO — A Nanaimo chemical plant, in business since the 1950’s, is shutting down at the end of the year.

Public and Private Workers of Canada Local 8 president Gerald de Jong said the company (Chemtrade Logistics) that recently bought the Duke Point based Canexus chemical plant has decided to close it down, affecting 20 full-time workers.

De Jong said the plant’s closure will have a notable trickle down effect on contract truck drivers and suppliers who will also be out of a job. He said their workers have been offered other jobs off Vancouver Island or severance packages.

“That chemical plant was put there specifically to house 70 to 75 per cent of Harmac’s needs to produce pulp and the excess was sold off to some of the other pulp mills,” de Jong said.

Harmac Pacific Pulp Mill president Levi Sampson told NanaimoNewsNOW they’ve been aware of the impending closure of Canexus for quite some time and have prepared.

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“We feel we’ve got some good options that we’ll be able to go forward with that won’t hurt our operation or impact our bottom line.”

Sampson said while Harmac Pacific considered buying the neighbouring chemical plant, a formal offer was not made.

NanaimoNewsNOW reached out to Chemtrade Logistsics about long term plans for their newly acquired Duke Point property. They have yet to reply.

Ian@NanaimoNewsNOW.com

On Twitter: @reportertholmes