Fortress Paper Ltd. announced that the cogeneration project at its Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill is nearing completion, with engineering and procurement completed and overall construction progress continuing and currently at approximately 94%. However, commissioning and start-up activities have incurred delays as a result of various factors, including unforeseen piping related delays, reduced manpower availability and minor scope of work adjustments. As a result, the company now expects delivery of power to commence late in the first quarter or early in the second quarter of 2013, and anticipates additional costs in the 10-20% range for the overall cogeneration project.

Hydro Quebec is aware of the postponement and the company anticipates delivery of power pursuant to the power purchase agreement in the normal course. The Fortress Specialty Cellulose Mill continues to ramp-up its production of dissolving pulp. Despite promising operating results in November and December 2012, the mill has encountered challenging ramp-up issues which are intrinsic to a dissolving pulp mill ramp-up.