APRIL sister firm Asia Symbol restarts 1.5 million tonne/yr BHK line and 300,000 tonne/yr cartonboard machine at Rizhao mill in China

        SINGAPORE, Aug 19, 2015 (RISI) - Asia Pacific Resources International (APRIL) affiliate Asia Symbol (Shandong) Pulp & Paper has restarted the largest idled bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) pulp line at its Rizhao mill in Shandong province, China, after the drought in the region broke.

        The 1.5 million tonne/yr BHK line restarted on August 15.

        It was forced to stop production on July 23, as Rizhao city faced water shortages due to the drought.

        "We aim to produce 5,000 tonnes per day on the pulp line following the restart. The last storm brought substantial rainfall to the area and raised the local reservoir levels. We now have water supplies sufficient to run the BHK line for three weeks. It will continue to be in operation after that, if more water comes," said an APRIL senior executive.

        The water supply issue is expected to be definitively resolved when a government water diversion project is completed in October.

        The output manufactured on the restarted BHK line will be shipped to Asia Symbol's long-term customers in the domestic market as a priority, and will also feed the paper and board machines at the group's own plants in the country.

        Some of the Rizhao pulp will be channelled to APRIL's 450,000 tonne/yr fine paper plant in Jiangmen city, Guangdong province, China.

        The Xinhui mill was forced to buy spot BHK volume on the domestic resale market when the Rizhao plant stopped providing it with any volumes.

        Other Rizhao units: The Rizhao plant resumed production on its 350,000 tonne/yr coated ivory board machine earlier this month, on August 8.

        It had stopped in late June when the drought began to dry up the region's water supply.

        The smaller 180,000 tonne/yr cartonboard PM at the mill has been operating without interruption.

        However, the facility's other BHK line, which has a capacity of 300,000 tonnes/yr, has remained offline.

        It suspended production on July 13 when the drought got worsened.

        Meanwhile, APRIL will stop diverting BHK tonnage from its 2.8 million tonne/yr Kerinci complex in Sumatra, Indonesia, to China, which had been done to ensure Asia Symbol's clients could get at least a minimum supply of pulp.

        The Kerinci facility will resume its normal BHK trade with customers across Asia this month, said the contact.