Commenting on the contract award, Mike Collins, president of capital projects in Wood’s Asset Solutions business across Europe, Africa, Asia & Australia, said: “Being selected to lead a project of this scale and complexity is testament to the outstanding technical capability we have in our Asia-Pacific business, and our strong understanding of the local market environment in Thailand where we have been operating for over 50 years.”

The Austrian fiber producer announced plans in June to invest €400 million in a 100,000 t/y plant at an industrial park in Prachinburi, near Bangkok. Lenzing said the facility will be the largest lyocell plant in the world when it starts up in the second half of 2021. Completion is anticipated for the third quarter of 2021, with production set to start in the following quarter.

Lenzing added that the site's excellent overall infrastructure and sustainable biogenic energy supply will help the company meet its ambitious CO₂ targets. Other factors behind selecting the location included excellent cooperation with Thailand's Board of Investment, the country's free trade agreements with China, easy access to ASEAN's growing middle-class market and the availability of local staff.