Metso to Deliver Fibe Line to West Coast Paper, India

Helsinki, Finland, 30 November 2006 -- Metso Paper will supply a new fiber line to The West Coast Paper Mills Ltd. in Dandeli, Karnataka state, India. The new fiber line project is the first step in a plan to increase the company's paper production and enhance pulp capacity and quality. The value of the order is close to EUR 25 million. The line is scheduled to start up during the second half of 2008.

The new fiber line is designed for a daily capacity of 725 o.d. metric tons of fully bleached pulp. The line will be the largest single pulp mill fiber line in India. The scope of Metso Paper's delivery comprises cooking, knotting and screening, oxygen delignification, and elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching. Wash presses will be installed at each stage of washing of both brown stock and bleached pulps.

Metso Paper also earlier supplied pulping equipment for The West Coast Paper Mill's existing fiber line in Dandeli.

The West Coast Paper Mills Ltd. belongs to the S.K. Bangur Group, which has interests in paper, cables, chemicals, tea, coffee, and rubber. Today, the Group's net sales are approximately INR 10,000 million (more than EUR 170 million). The West Coast Paper Mills manufactures writing, printing, wrapping, and packaging papers.

Metso is a global engineering and technology corporation with 2005 net sales of approximately EUR 4.2 billion. Its 22,000 employees in more than 50 countries serve customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry, and selected other industries.

www.metso.com