MILLINOCKET -- A Millinocket paper mill that halted production this week because of high oil prices has lost at least $57 million since the operation was restarted in June 2004.

That figure comes from Glenn McMillan, an executive of Fraser Papers, which manages the Katahdin Paper Co. mills in northern Maine.

McMillan says the mill's rebuilt machine that turns out magazine and catalog paper is "world-class," and Fraser will restart the operation if officials can negotiate a deal to install a biomass boiler.

After halting production Tuesday, workers began mothballing the machine and equipment. More than 200 employees face layoffs as a result of the indefinite shutdown.