Andritz confirms Uruguay negotiations

The planned pulp mill in Uruguay will have a capacity of 1.3 million tons eucalyptus pulp per year. A contract between Andritz and Montes del Plata is likely to be signed in the near future. The parties have agreed not to disclose the order value. However, typical order values of comparable reference projects are between 750 and 800 million Euros, according to Andritz.The scope of supply of the Andritz Pulp & Paper Business area covers the 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.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 people.