TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC—Kruger Packaging L.P., an eco-friendly producer of publication papers, tissue products, containerboard and packaging, has invested $250 million to convert the No. 10 newsprint machine (PM10) at its Trois-Rivières Mill to manufacture 100% recycled lightweight linerboard.

According to Kruger, the new project will generate 270 jobs at the mill.

The project has the support of the Government of Quebec, receiving from it, $190 million including an $84 million loan to finance the cost of the conversion and $106 million participation, through Investissement Québec, in a new company that combines all Kruger’s containerboard and packaging activities.  The Government of Quebec will own 25% of the new company, which has assets in excess of $600 million, and more than 800 jobs, including 620 in Quebec.

PM10 will be modernized by 2017 and at that time it will produce 360,000 metric tones of 100% recycled lightweight linerboard annually. A portion will be sold to Kruger packaging plants in La Salle, QC and Brampton, ON. The rest will be sold on the market.