Montevideo, Chile, 02 July 2010 -- On July 2, Arauco reopened its Horcones II saw mill, located at the company’s Horcones Industrial Forestry Complex, in the Arauco commune, in Chile’s Bío Bío Region. Company executives, local authorities, and the Labor Ministry’s regional secretary toured the facility, officially restarting the operation.

 

This saw mill’s reopening generated 165 new job positions, which is a contribution to stable employment in an area that was severely affected by the earthquake and tidal wave on 27 February 2010.

 

This production unit had been closed since December of last year, due to the crisis affecting the sector. Of the total number of new employees, 120 people were hired for the facility’s operation, mainly coming from the Arauco Province and the communities of Arauco and Curanilahue, while 45 people were hired as cafeteria staff, loaders and security guards.

 

Horcones II will have a monthly production capacity of 14,500 cubic meters of green wood, mainly serving the national, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Central American markets.

 

Of ARAUCO’s 35 facilities that were shut down since the earthquake -– or before then, as was the case of Horcones II saw mill -- 34 are operating normally, only Line 2 at the Horcones pulp mill is still pending, its reopening date is yet to be determined.