Indonesia-based PT. South Pacific Viscose (SPV), a subsidiary of Austria-based cellulosic fiber
producer Lenzing AG, has commissioned its fourth viscose fiber production line. The line represents
a US$150 million investment, Lenzing’s largest recent single investment project and part of an
overall investment of $500 million in SPV, and adds 60,000 metric tons of production capacity for
textile and nonwoven applications. SPV now has an annual production capacity of 220,000 metric tons
and is the largest viscose fiber production facility in Asia and the second-largest such facility
within Lenzing’s global operations.
As part of the investment, SPV also added a state-of-the-art 21-megawatt power station
equipped with a multi-fuel fluidized boiler and attached steam turbine, a 300-metric ton-daily
capacity sulfuric acid plant, a carbon disulfide recovery plant, and process- and wastewater
facilities. Lenzing reports these improvements have brought SPV into compliance with the latest
environmental standards. In addition, SPV has initiated a debottlenecking program to increase
annual production capacity to 238,000 metric tons.
“Indonesia and the whole of Asia are Lenzing’s single most important sales market. The
extension of PT. South Pacific Viscose … marks our commitment to our customers in this part of
the world,” said Peter Untersperger, chairman of Lenzing’s Management Board. He added that once all
of Lenzing’s current investment projects are completed in 2012, about half of the group’s projected
total fiber production capacity, or 378,000 metric tons, will be located in Asia. In the longer
term, Lenzing plans to have an overall capacity of one million metric tons and projects more than
half of that will be located in Asia.
SPV is one of the biggest employers in the region, having a workforce of 1,656 employees, and
also provides financial support to schools, child and health care facilities in its community.
May 18, 2010
