From mines to sawmills, through pulp and paper and aluminum smelter activities, the natural resources sector is quite disrupted by the forest fires that are burning all over Quebec.
Frédéric Verreault, general manager of Chantiers Chibougamau, had “both hands in the crisis cell” on Monday. His company is fighting fire on three fronts at the same time, in Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Abitibi and Chibougamau, he said in an interview with La Presse.
In Lebel-sur-Quévillon, the line of fire passed half a kilometer from the Nordic Kraft pulp mill, which belongs to Chantiers Chibougamau. To say everyone was hot is an understatement.
“In two hours on Friday, we went from a state of concern to a complete evacuation,” said the leader.
A kraft pulp mill is an industrial behemoth that does not easily evacuate, he explains. There are complex industrial processes, large quantities of hazardous materials and, therefore, a high risk of explosion.
“Thank goodness the preventive watering of the plant prevented the worst,” says Frédéric Verreault. But there’s still smoke coming out of the ground and we’re not letting our guard down. »
Further west, a team of 50 company employees, with heavy equipment, worked to lay out a six-kilometre mechanized stop line to slow the spread of the flames. In Abitibi, where Chantiers Chibougamau operates three sawmills, La Sarre, Landrienne and Béarn, activities resumed on Monday after being interrupted over the weekend. Air quality is an issue, says Frédéric Verreault, because the smoke from the fires burning in Ontario also affects the region.
“We’re on the lookout,” he said.
Resolute Forest Products “is on high alert,” said company spokesperson Louis Bouchard. “We are monitoring the situation to the nearest second. Our harvesting operations are obviously interrupted, due to the ban on going into the forest, and we are trying to repatriate machinery that could help fight the fires,” he said.
The company has not halted operations at its sawmills, but it may have to do so if the wood supply runs out.
In Abitibi, several mines ceased operations over the weekend due to poor air quality, which affects the ventilation of underground spaces. This is the case of Agnico Eagle, Iamgold and Hecla Quebec, which have reduced their operations and canceled shifts.
On Monday, a spokeswoman for Agnico Eagle called the situation “concerning.” “We are currently operating normally on all of our sites,” Laurie Théberge said by email. We obviously remain on the lookout for any new recommendations that may be issued by the authorities to ensure a fully safe work environment for all our employees. »
In Sept-Îles, the activities of the Alouette aluminum smelter were indirectly affected by the fires, because the evacuation notices affected several of its employees. After the city declared a state of emergency, the company released employees forced from their homes, but asked others to help it continue operations. “Given the situation, we are calling on the availability of employees not covered by the evacuation notice and whose presence may be required to ensure the safe operations of our facilities,” the smelter asked in a message to its staff.
The City of Sept-Îles on Monday maintained most of the evacuation notices, which affect approximately 5,000 people.
