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Around a dozen companies have expressed interest in taking over UPM's Miramichi site.

Enlarge Photo

File photo

An aerial view in summer of the former UPM mill.

The deadline set by UPM for interested parties to make offers on the mill was April 30. UPM spokeswoman Sharon Pond said the company is now evaluating each offer before moving forward. Meanwhile, she said, the company is declining to reveal the names of those who have expressed an interested.

"We are not going to be discussing any individual expressions of interest," she said. "We will release any information when we have something to release."

One independently confirmed company that has expressed an interest is Norwegian solar panel manufacturer Umoe Solar. the company has sent several representatives to Miramichi over the past few months, but managing director Oystin Oyehaug says it will be some time before it makes a final decision on a site.

"We have not done any thorough research into whether it could be useful to us at all," said Oyehaug.

"We have indicated that we may be interested if it turns out that it is attractive..."

Oyehaug said the Miramichi site is one of several around the world the company is looking at.

"It's one of a dozen or more ... That's why I am a bit reluctant to make any specific comments on that site."

Umoe Solar is a privately held subsidiary of Umoe A.S., a Norwegian investment company with a hand in shipping, maritime equipment, shipyards, oil and gas services, catering, IT and telecommunications.

Miramichi Mayor John McKay said he has been aware of the various expressions of interest for some time, and takes them as a sign the region is still attractive to investors.

"These companies are certainly very well informed in terms of what they require and as to what the world marketplace expects," he said. "The very fact that they are looking at the facilities here speaks well of the potential of the Miramichi."

McKay would not give any details about which other companies were interested, but expressed his hope that something would come of the negotiations.

"If they've got an alternate use for that facility that is going to produce hundreds of jobs, then that's really, really positive news," he said.

The mayor said the fact that one of the interested companies was involved in alternative energy was a good indication that the city could continue to move away from resource extraction activities.

"The old forest-based industries are being challenged," he said. "In order to reposition itself for the challenges that the world economy presents, the Miramichi must attract and encourage new types of economic activities."

McKay said if a deal goes through with one of the companies, the city may be able to call on federal funds promised earlier this year to help communities reliant on single industries adapt to changing economic climes.

He added the province also usually gets involved whenever new companies express interest in the city's defunct mills, and hoped it will continue to do so.

"It's a matter of survival," he said. "You can't just sit back and wait for things to happen, and you can't make them happen by yourself. It's very, very crucial that the federal and provincial governments be made aware that they have a major responsibility to support investment in northern New Brunswick."

A spokesman for Business New Brunswick would not confirm whether the province was involved in negotiations with Umoe Solar or any other company.