The troubled Corner Brook pulp and paper mill has suffered another setback.

In a statement this morning, mill owner Kruger said operations have been “temporarily”  shut down to repair the steam distribution system.

The company did not elaborate on what the work involves, and did not say when operations might resume.

Kruger says they’re working closely with Service NL’s engineering and inspection services and “will take all necessary measures to ensure that all equipment is compliant with safety regulations, with the goal of resuming operations as quickly and as safely as possible.”

In the meantime, officials are trying to determine how serious the problem is, and the extent of repairs required, adding “employee safety is the top priority.”

Kruger recently entered a deal to sell excess power from its Deer Lake generating station back to the province, as required. They’ve also committed to exploring new opportunities for the mill.

This company says the shutdown will not impact “ongoing strategic diversification efforts,” adding “Kruger remains committed to making the mill operations sustainable in the long term.”