Investigators try to pinpoint cause of Jay mill explosion

SUN JOURNAL • April 16, 2020

Investigators began Thursday to try to figure out what caused an explosion at the Androscoggin Mill that left part of the complex a smoking ruin but caused no serious injuries. Just before noon Wednesday, one of the plant’s major pieces of equipment, called a digester, blew up, leaving a key section of the paper mill a charred and shattered mess. Without the digester the mill won’t be able to produce pulp “for a significant period.” The mill’s paper machines, however, were not damaged so its owner, the Pennsylvania-based Pixelle Specialty Solutions, is “exploring options to resume paper machine operations.