The Prince Albert pulp mill will not reopen as BMI Group begins plans to redevelop the site and attract new industrial tenants.
Prince Albert Pulp Mill Won’t Reopen as BMI Begins Redevelopment Plans
New Ownership Sets New Direction
The long-idle Prince Albert pulp and paper mill will not return to operation after its sale to Ontario-based BMI Group, ending hopes of a restart and beginning a search for new industrial tenants. The decision follows BMI’s purchase of the site from Domtar after eight months of negotiations, confirming a permanent shift away from pulp production.
Company Vision for Revitalization
BMI, headquartered in Tillsonburg, Ont., said its goal is to transform the former Weyerhaeuser property into a hub for new economic activity. The development firm specializes in environmental remediation and repositions industrial sites for modern uses. “The site will never be a pulp mill again,” said Chris Rickett, BMI Group’s head of government and community relations, highlighting the company’s intention to reimagine the property rather than restore its former operations.
A Site with Industrial Potential
Located about 10 kilometres east of downtown Prince Albert, the 2,331-acre site includes river access, former waste ponds, and a connection to the Carlton Trail Railway. BMI noted that its existing power-generation infrastructure—capable of producing energy from tree waste—could attract industries requiring on-site power solutions. The mill originally closed in 2006, resulting in the loss of roughly 700 direct jobs and further impacts across the forestry sector.
Engagement with Local and Indigenous Partners
BMI has started consultations with the City of Prince Albert, the province and nearby First Nations, with plans to launch a formal master planning process in early 2026. Rickett said local input will guide future opportunities, including decisions on what equipment will remain, what needs upgrading and what should be removed to support new industrial development.
OSB Plant Proposal Still Alive
While the pulp mill restart is off the table, One Sky Forest Products continues to pursue construction of an oriented strand board (OSB) facility on a subdivided parcel of the site. The group, backed by Tatanka Oyate Holdings and other First Nations partners, is working to finalize investment commitments after earlier delays tied to potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian wood products.
One Sky board member Robert Fincati said the project remains active, emphasizing the need for local fibre processing capacity. The proposed $500-million plant would create approximately 120 direct jobs and another 120 in harvesting and hauling.
Regulatory and Resource Approvals in Place
The provincial government has already approved key components of One Sky’s project, including its environmental impact assessment and a timber allocation of 1.2 million cubic metres to ensure fibre supply. The Ministry of Environment said it welcomed the sale of the mill site and viewed the redevelopment as positive for Prince Albert and the broader region, which hosts several sawmills and OSB facilities currently in operation.
