According to a report this past week from the Palatka Daily News, Palatka, Fla., USA, officials from Georgia-Pacific’s Palatka Pulp and Paper Operations announced this past week that they have received approval to invest approximately $70 million to modernize equipment in the mill’s power generation area. 

 

 

 

The new equipment is expected to make the mill more energy efficient and reduce water use by more than 30%. 

 

"We continue to make ongoing investments in the mill to help reduce our overall environmental impact and to improve our cost competitiveness," Palatka Mill Manager Kevin Curry said. "This investment helps accomplish both of those goals, and earning this investment is a great accomplishment for our entire Palatka team. Our mill employees continue to work hard to operate our mill safely and create value for customers, the community, our company, and our families." 

 

The mill currently employs more than 900 people from Putnam County and the surrounding area. This project will create more than 150 jobs for contractors and vendors during construction and installation. 

 

The newly announced project is in addition to an approximately $19 million investment announced last year for installation of product quality improvement equipment in the mill’s kraft paper area. Installation of that project is currently underway at the mill. 

 

The Palatka mill operates two kraft paper machines, three paper machines manufacturing paper for bath tissue and paper towels, and a number of converting operations producing finished paper products ready for customers.