Biofuels, aimed at reducing various types of atmospheric pollution related to transport
systems, are in an active phase of development in Western Europe, and particularly
in France, spurred on by the Public Authorities.

Produced through fermentation of agricultural raw materials (biomass), ethanol is
used for various applications: drinks, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, solvents,
chemicals and more and more often in fuels, either in the form of an additive to
gasoline (ETBE: Ethyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether) or blended directly with hydrocarbon-based
gasoline.
Biodiesel is produced through the transesterification of vegetable oils (sunflower and
rapeseed oils) and, blended with gas oil, is used in diesel motors.
Ethanol fuel and biodiesel are biofuels representing energy that is both clean and
renewable.

Within this framework, Technip has recently won six contracts, worth about 35 million
euros altogether, for ethanol and biodiesel units which, for most of them, implement
the Technip Group’s proprietary “Speichim” technologies.

- In France, Technip has won an engineering contract from Diester Industrie for
a biofuel production unit, based on an IFP process, to be located at Sète. This
new unit, with a 160,000 t/y capacity of vegetable oils methyl esters should
begin production at the end of 2005.

- In France, Technip has been awarded, by Ryssen Distilleries, a turnkey
project for the construction of a drinks-grade, industrial-grade and fuel-grade
ethanol distillery. This contract covers a unit with a capacity of 350,000 liters
per day to be installed at the port of Dunkirk. Construction work began last
February and start-up is scheduled within the first weeks of 2005.

- Also in France, Technip has completed a turnkey contract for Sedalcol, an
affiliate of the Tate and Lyle group, on its site at Nesle. This project, covering a
120,000-liter/day unit for the production of fuel-grade, industrial-grade and
drinks-grade ethanol, was carried out in 11 months.

- In the Netherlands, Technip has won from Nedalco, the country’s sole ethanol
producer, a contract for a 120,000-liter/day unit to be located at Sas Van Gent.
The contract covers the turnkey supply of distillation-rectification and
fermentation sections for drinks-grade and industrial-grade ethanol.
The ethanol will be produced from a by-product of starch production. For this
12-month project, Technip will also supervise start-up, stated for July 2005.

- Technip has signed with Russian Standard Vodka limited, a leading producer
of high premium vodka in Russia, a contract for a new distillery, which will be
located at Saint Petersburg and will have a production capacity of 40,000 liters
a day of very high-grade ethanol, Technip is responsible for design, equipment
supply and assistance during construction and start-up for the distillation-rectification
section. Delivery is scheduled for the end of 2004.

- In Pakistan, Technip has won an engineering contract from United Ethanol
Industries Ltd., a major sugar group in Pakistan. The contract covers basic
design, construction assistance and start-up of a grassroots distillery (raw
material preparation, fermentation and distillation). Start-up of this distillery,
which will have a production capacity of 120,000 liters a day of drinks-grade
and industrial-grade ethanol, is scheduled for early 2005.

Biofuels production process sketch available upon request.

With a workforce of about 19,000 persons, Technip ranks among the top five corporations in
the field of oil, gas and petrochemical engineering, construction and services. Headquartered
in Paris, the Group is listed in New York and Paris. The Group’s main engineering and
business centers are located in France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Norway, Finland, the
Netherlands, the United States, Brazil, Abu-Dhabi, China, India, Malaysia and Australia. The
Group has high-quality industrial and construction facilities in France, Brazil, the UK, the
USA, Finland and Angola as well as a world-class fleet of offshore construction vessels.

Redactie,
Wij schreven het pas nog, maar dit is goed voor de eigenaren van Nedalco, Cosun en CSM.
Ook voor de afvalverwerking van landbouwproducten en voor de bietentelers goed berichten. Goedkope en nuttige manier, levert nog geld op.
Ook hier laat de markt zich leiden door kortzichtigheid. CSM op een koers van onder de EUR 19 en Numico en Nutreco half EUR 20 en terwijl Numico misschien in 2006 pas dividend gaat betalen.
De beleggers gaan weer af op het "bericht" en niet op de realiteit.