164. No person may operate a plant without prior authorization of the Minister of Energy and Resources. Such authorization is valid for a period of twelve months, but is renewable.
No person may establish a plant or increase its production capacity, or its annual timber consumption, convert a plant or, if it is a permanent one, change its location without prior authorization of the Minister of Energy and Resources. He shall grant such authorization if he deems that the sources of timber supply are sufficient.
However, the authorization mentioned in the second paragraph is not required where technological innovations capable of increasing the production capacity of a plant do not entail an increase of wood consumption or where an increase of productivity does not entail an increase of wood consumption of more than five per cent annually.
1974, c. 28, s. 74; 1979, c. 81, s. 20.