VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) — International Paper says a lack of orders will force it to idle its Vicksburg mill for 17 days.

The plant will shut down on Saturday. The move will affect 240 workers.

Tom Marcher, the mill’s manager, said Thursday in a news release that International Paper is committed to managing its supply and making adjustments going into the new year.

He said the company will allow affected employees to use any unused vacation or personal holidays during the shut down.

The plant was restarted in November following an explosion May 3 during routine maintenance to a recovery boiler that killed one man and injured 17 others. All were contract employees.

IP announced Friday up to 1,500 salaried jobs will be cut by the end of 2009.