Aker awarded €140 million

, one of the world's largest producers of high performance fibres, has selected

to provide engineering and construction management services for a significant expansion project.

The total investment value of the expansion, known as the Niji Project, is around €140 million. The project encompasses expansion of Teijin Twaron's production plant located in Delfzijl and its spinning plant in Emmen, the Netherlands.

The expansion will result in a 20 per cent increase of the total production volume of Twaron yarn and pulp and will enable Teijin Twaron to respond to the increase in demand for its Twaron fibres. Total nameplate capacity will rise to approximately 23,000 tons.

The award of this latest project from Teijin Twaron follows Aker Kvaerner's successful completion of the Mirai Project in early 2003 and its current work on the spinning SR Line.

Engineering work has already commenced at the AK Process office in Zoetermeer and construction began at the Emmen facility following sanction of the project by the Teijin Group. The additional capacity will come on stream by mid-2006.