The massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked the heart of Chile’s forest products manufacturing region at the end of February left wood panel plants shaken but largely unscathed.
However, production was suspended at most facilities located in the worst affected zone in the face of the widespread disruption to communications and services.
A week after the quake and its accompanying coastal tsunami waves, Chile’s big forest products groups including Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion SA, Masisa SA and pulp and plywood maker CMPC SA, were still counting the cost of the disaster.
Arauco reported soon after the tremors that two workers of contractors were killed at the sawmill and remanufacturing operations at Horcones I and Cholguan, and two employees were injured at its Arauco pulp mill.
Group pulp mills bore the brunt of the worst damage and disruption to production suffered by the industry after the earthquake. But Masisa was forced to close down its Mapal panels complex near the port city of Coronel after fire severely damaged the thermal plant serving the MDF line.
Mapal’s particleboard and laminating lines suffered little damage, although the plant was closed due to lack of energy and basic services, the group reported.
Arauco reported some of its pulp mills suffered significant damage, while its Mutrún sawmill at the devastated city of Constitución was destroyed by the tsunami waves.
