CHINA - Chinese company Zhanjiang Chenming is buying the main equipment for its new pulp mill in Zhanjiang, Guangdoing province from Metso for about US$294 million (Eur 200 million).

The capacity of the wood pulp mill, scheduled to start operations by October 2010, will be 700,000 t/year. Metso will start executing the project execution by the end of August 2008 for Zhanjiang Chenming, a subsidiary company of Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited, one of the largest paper producers in China.

The scope of supply comprises the main equipment for the pulping line, including wood handling, cooking, screening and washing, bleaching, drying and baling. For black liquor burning, Metso will supply a recovery boiler, as well as the mill's odorous gas treatment system.

The automation supply includes a comprehensive process automation system for the entire pulp mill. The fiber-line automation also includes analyzers and training simulators, and for the pulp dryer, the quality control system.

Shandong Chenming Paper Holdings Limited’s paper production capacity was approximately three million tons in 2007, with its turnover at approximately US$2.21 billion (EUR 1.5 billion). It has 15,000 employees in the mainland.