The Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County is back in operation.

Installation of the new 10-storey, $22-million electrostatic precipitator is complete, mill officials said in a news release.

“With this precipitator, we have entered a new era of improving the mill’s environmental performance significantly,” general manager Bruce Chapman said in the release.

“Northern Pulp now has a progressive owner committed to continue investing in the mill, a dedicated workforce and a client base that continues to grow.”

The Abercrombie Point mill has been a significant player in the county’s economy since 1967, the release said.

The precipitator consists of a charging section and a collection section.

Electrodes in the charging section inject a positive charge to the incoming flue gas and dust particles.

Electrostatic precipitation removes particles from the exhaust gas stream of an industrial process, significantly reducing the emission of particles into the air.