Empresas Copec reports that the rebuild of its Arauco plywood mill at Nueva Aldea, Chile, which was destroyed by fire in January 2012, is proceeding as expected. The $165 million (U.S.) plant will have a production capacity of 350,000 m3, which will be exported to markets in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The mill is expected to start operations in late 2013 and reach full capacity in the first half of 2014.

Commencing on December 31, 2011, wildfires, exacerbated by high temperatures and strong winds, broke out in the Eighth Region of Chile. The fires destroyed the Nueva Aldea plywood mill and approximately 7,000 hectares of Arauco forest plantations, which represented approximately 0.7% of the company’s total plantations. The Nueva Aldea plywood mill represented approximately 14% of Arauco’s panel production capacity.