Metso negotiates new schedule with Aracruz for the Guaíba pulp project

HELSINKI, Oct. 20, 2008 (Press Release) - Metso's customer Aracruz has announced that they will temporarily suspend the expansion of its plant in Guaíba in Brazil. In late August Metso told that it had won an order for the main technology for Aracruz's new 1.5-million-tons/yr bleached hardwood kraft (BHK) pulp line, to be built at their Guaíba mill in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The new pulp line was scheduled to start up during the second half of 2010. The order is valued at close to Euro 400 million.

Metso is currently negotiating with Aracruz about the new implementation schedule of the Guaíba project. Metso is continuing work, within the cost frame covered by the down payment received from Aracruz, in order to allow an easy restart of the project.