TMKS.L Regulatory News (TMKS)

16 Apr 2008 07:59

OAO TMK16 April 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 16 2008 PRESS RELEASE Installation of a New Large-Diameter Pipe Mill at TMK's Volzhsky Pipe Plant. OAO "TMK" (TMK) today announces that the installation of a new large-diameterlongitudinal welded pipe mill is underway at its Volzhsky subsidiary. The new 650,000 tonne mill will produce longitudinal welded pipes of X80 gradewith diameters ranging from 530mm to 1420mm and wall thickness of up to 42mm.Interior smooth coating and exterior anticorrosion coating capacities will beadded to this mill. These pipes are used in long distance oil and gas pipelines including offshorepipelines, oil field pipelines, general purpose pipelines, and in theconstruction of heating systems and nuclear power stations. TMK contracted HAEUSLER AG of Switzerland, one of the world's biggest producersof welded pipe production equipment, to supply the new pipe mill for theproduction of large-diameter longitudinal welded pipes. The mill will includebending, welding, and finishing stations. Azovinteks Design and Construction LLCwill install the equipment and production of large-diameter longitudinal weldedpipes is expected to start in Q3 2008. The pipe mill will utilise Haeusler's leading edge roll bending technology as itensures high productivity and high quality production characteristics. Following commissioning, Volzhsky's large-diameter welded pipe capacity willamount to 1.2 million tonnes per annum. OAO "TMK" (www.tmk-group.com) Founded in 2001, TMK (LSE: TMKS) is the largest pipe producer in Russia and oneof the three global market leaders. In 2007, TMK shipped over 3 million tonnes of pipes. TMK supplies to companiesin more than 60 countries. TMK production facilities are located in Russia and Romania: • Volzhsky Pipe Plant; • Seversky Tube Works; • Taganrog Metallurgical Works; • Sinarsky Pipe Plant; • SC TMK-Resita SA; • SC TMK-ARTROM SA; • TMK Oilfield Services: • Orsky Machine Building Plant; • Truboplast pipe coating company; • TMK Central Pipe Yard; • TMK Pipe Maintenance Department. For further information please contact: TMK PR Department: TMK IR DepartmentAlexey Sotskov Alexei RatnikovTel: +7 495 775 7600 ext. 2125 Tel: +7 495 775 7600 ext. 2078Email: PR@tmk-group.com Email: IR@tmk-group.com www.tmk-group.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange