EAST MILLINOCKET, Maine (AP) – The Katahdin Paper Co. mill in East Millinocket plans to close for most of April because of a lack of orders and the need for routine maintenance.

Officials say as many as three-quarters of the mill’s 491 workers will be placed on furlough beginning April 9.

Bill Peterson of Fraser Papers, which manages the mill, told the Bangor Daily News on Wednesday that the furloughs are tentatively expected to run through May 4. He said the length of the shutdown will depend on the progress of boiler maintenance work and whether additional orders come in.

Katahdin’s sister mill in Millinocket has been closed since September as officials consider converting its steam generation power from oil to biomass.