BPB is pleased to announce the completion of a long-term agreement with a power utility in North Carolina for the supply of desulphogypsum to a new 700 million square feet capacity wallboard plant.


The group's new $100 million plant, which will be located at Roxboro alongside Progress Energy's coal-fired power generator, will be commissioned in 2007 to meet expected sales volume growth and improve customer service levels in the eastern US region.


Commenting on the group's planned US capacity expansion, Richard Cousins, BPB chief executive said:


"The Roxboro agreement provides BPB with a secure source of high quality desulphogypsum for a well-located wallboard plant which will be ready in 2007. The new US plant will operate at world class manufacturing standards and establish a more efficient cost base, and will significantly strengthen our market representation on the eastern seaboard where we are currently under represented."

• BPB is the world leader in the supply of plasterboard and gypsum plasters, and a major supplier of insulation, ceiling tiles and related products for internal linings, serving growing markets for building systems in over 50 countries.

• BPB will publish its trading update for 2003/04 on 25 March 2004, ahead of the group's announcement of preliminary results and recommended final dividend for the year to 31 March 2004 due on 20 May 2004.