OREANDA-NEWS. November 02, 2009. Management of Baikalsk pulp and paper mill (Irkutsk region, Russia) is going on with preparations to the launch of unbleached pulp production in close water circuit mode, as Kommersant newspaper reported with a reference to the press service of Continental Management, pulp mill’s managing company.

By now, secondary circular settling tanks are prepared, test launch with steam supply from evaporation train is performed, the main production facility and offices are heated. Estimate of launch expenditures is prepared and the mill’s readiness to function with close water circuit is analysed.

The company’s press release blames regional authorities for nonfeasance and creating complicated situation as well as 19 million roubles (US654,000) debt to the mill. As Irkutsk region administration explained, regional budget does not have any debts to the mill, as the regional authorities do not possess a single share of the enterprise. It means that regional government can’t take management decisions concerning operations of the mill, including financing of the mill’s launch. Meanwhile, Continental Management insists that the launch be financed by the region.