ANDRITZ in advanced negotiations with Montes del Plata for supply of major pulp mill equipment

GRAZ, Austria, Feb. 14, 2011 (Press Release) -

International technology Group ANDRITZ and Montes del Plata, a joint venture company of Stora Enso and Arauco, are in advanced negotiations towards concluding a contract for supply of production technologies and equipment for the new pulp mill of Montes del Plata in Punta Pereira, Uruguay (capacity: 1.3 million t/a eucalyptus market pulp). It was agreed not disclose the order value; however typical order values of comparable reference projects are between 750-800 million Euros.

The scope of supply of the ANDRITZ PULP & PAPER business area covers the EPC delivery of the complete fiberline as well as the recovery island, including all relevant process steps. Start-up of production is scheduled for the first half of 2013.

On December 30, 2010 Montes del Plata received the environmental permit for its pulp project from the Uruguayan government. The new pulp mill will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, using eucalyptus essentially from Montes del Plata's own plantations.

The construction and operation of the pulp mill will provide a significant positive economic stimulus to the country. An average of 3,200 - and at peak of 6,000 - workers will be employed during construction. Once the mill is operational, it will permanently employ about 500 highly qualified people.