The Espanola Pulp and Paper Mill site in Ontario, Canada. The mill, which was owned by Domtar, was closed in November 2023 and purchased by BMI Group in October 2025.
April 16, 2026 - Ecostrat and BMI Group recently announced a collaboration to leverage BDO Zone Ratings to 'ready-state' BMI's legacy pulp and paper assets across Canada for next-generation investment in the bioeconomy.
The collaboration will use BDO Zone Ratings to advance the development of multi-product biorefinery platforms capable of producing biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas, engineered wood products, including mass timber, and other advanced manufacturing technologies at BMI properties.
"Canada has legacy mill assets, fibre resources, and communities looking for new investment," said Jordan Solomon, CEO of Ecostrat. "What is often missing is consistent, investment-grade regional intelligence that helps developers and investors assess where new projects can move with greater confidence. When that gap is filled, investment often follows, as demonstrated by more than $10 billion in plant announcements in BDO Zones to date."
Paul Veldman, CEO of the BMI Group, added: "We are making our sites available as early candidates for this work because we believe Canada can lead the world in transforming legacy forest-industry assets into the next generation of biorefineries. Putting wood back to work ensures that every part of the fibre stream supports new products, new industries, and renewed opportunity for forestry communities."
BMI Group has acquired a portfolio of nine former pulp and paper mill sites across Canada with the intention of repurposing them for new industrial uses. Through this collaboration, BMI is making selected assets available as early candidates for BDO Zone assessment work led by Ecostrat to strengthen investment attraction, reduce early-stage development risk, and support market diversification in Canada's forest regions.
BMI's Bioveld North project in Espanola, Ontario, exemplifies this model in action. The site is being developed as a full-fibre bioproduct hub focused on putting wood back to work and creating new opportunities in advanced materials, renewable energy, and next-generation fibre manufacturing. Tools like the BDO Zone framework can help accelerate investment into sites like Espanola by providing developers and investors with a clearer understanding of feedstock availability, infrastructure, and site readiness.
The companies said the collaboration is intended to serve as an early private-sector signal of confidence in the broader use of BDO Zone assessments across Canada, and to encourage government support for market-diversification efforts that strengthen Canada's ability to attract global project developers and international investment to its forest regions.
As the federal government considers how to accelerate market diversification and attract new forms of manufacturing to forest communities, this collaboration highlights the importance of practical tools that help identify, assess, and present regionally competitive opportunities.
The Ecostrat Biomass Supply Group has deep experience in aggregating and supplying quality wood fiber and organics for bio-based projects throughout North America and overseas.
Based in Tillsonburg Ontario, the BMI Group is the largest holder of end-of-use paper mills in Ontario with industrial infrastructure properties in Iroquois Falls, Fort Frances, the Niagara region, Sault Ste. Marie, and Red Rock Ontario.
SOURCE: BMI Group