Stage II Of Wood Supply Competitive Process

To help foster a stronger, more diversified forest sector, the government has launched Stage II of its Provincial Wood Supply Competitive Process.

Stage I, the Request for Expressions of Interests, was launched in January 2009 to help determine if a wood supply competitive process was warranted.  The response was overwhelming, attracting 131 submissions from Canadian and international proponents with proposals related to biofuels, biochemicals, wood pellets, heat and power projects, composites and other value-added uses.

Stage II is open to any proponents interested in using Crown wood supply and investing in Ontario.  This includes existing forest companies that are interested in expanding their current wood supply or exploring new markets and business opportunities.  Forest companies with idle processing or manufacturing facilities may also choose to participate to demonstrate their desire and commitment to reopen and resume using wood supplies.

The wood will come from 41 forest management units in Ontario - the majority in Northern Ontario.  Part of the wood supply in this competitive process will come from harvest residues - tree tops and irregular limbs - that can be used to support Ontario's emerging bioeconomy sector, such as to produce wood pellets for energy.

Information sessions are scheduled for Kenora, Thunder Bay, Pembroke, Timmins and Sault Ste Marie in the coming weeks. 

For more information on the Provincial Wood Supply Competitive Process and how to submit a proposal, visit ontario.ca/crownwood.  Proposals must be submitted by March 4, 2010.