Nine Dragons still roaring. (Paper).

Operators of the Nine Dragons mill, one of the largest paper mill complexes in the world, have announced plans to build a new greenfield paper mill in China. The new project will be located near Shanghai.

Initial plans for the mill call for several paper and paperboard machines to be built. The total capacity of the project is expected to reach three million metric tons of paperboard per year when it is completed. The project will include the construction and operation of a power plant, as well as a terminal for transporting raw material and finished product.

Nine Dragons also announced that it will be opening two new machines at its existing facility in Dongguan, China. The fourth paper machine is scheduled to open next year, with paper machine number five opening up in 2004. (Additionally, Nine Dragons will be opening its paper machine number three later this year.)

When the mills at the existing facility open it is expected that close to 100,000 tons per month of recovered fiber will be required, with a majority of the recovered fiber coming from the U.S.

Production output from both mills will be sold mainly in China. For more on the Nine Dragons mill and its ownership group, America Chung Nam Inc., see this issue's cover story.