Opal Australian Paper has revealed that it intends to permanently reconfigure its Maryvale site, by closing one of its three pulp plants.

Opal made a submission to the EPA on 27 March providing an overview of the proposed changes at the Maryvale Mill. The EPA advised that the best pathway for permanent changes to Opal’s operating configuration and site processes was through a development licence.

A development licence (DL) is for the design, construction and modification stages of a project. Opal submitted this DL application to the EPA on 22 June.

In addition to the closure of one of its Maryvale pulp plants, the company is also seeking approvals to transition to the preferred Continuous Kraft Mill and Neutral Sulphate Semi Chemical operating configuration.

It added that the above changes alters its operating licence and discharge limits, as well as the closure of the white pulp and paper manufacturing facilities.

Opal recently made the decision to close its M2 paper machine at the Maryvale Mill following the unplanned end of VicForests wood supply last year.

In February, Opal ended white pulp and paper manufacturing at the mill, which resulted in the closure of its Paper Machine 5 (M5) which previously made copy paper including Reflex.

Opal’s parent company Nippon Paper recently said the decision to close several of its paper machines resulted in 6.1 billion yen ($63.9 million) in losses.

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