Brazil’s Suzano has boosted its pulp capacity by over 20% after starting production on its $4.3bn Cerrado Project – the world’s largest single pulp production line.
Based in Ribas do Rio Pardo, Mato Grosso do Sul state, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 2.55m tonnes of eucalyptus pulp, increasing Suzano’s production capacity to 13.5m tonnes a year.
Some $3.1bn was allocated for the construction of the plant and $1.2bn earmarked for the formation of the planting base and the pulp outbound logistics.
Suzano can also produce 1.5m tonnes of paper per year including sanitary paper, printing, and writing and packaging lines.
Beto Abreu, Suzano Chief Executive, said: “The successful completion of the Cerrado Project reflects the dedication and execution capability of each person involved in this grand and transformative project.”
The company said the site has been “purpose-built to meet global demand for sustainably produced eucalyptus-based products.”
The mill will use renewable biomass to produce 180 MW of surplus green power a month.
This energy will be directed toward the mill’s local suppliers as well as the national grid and is enough to power a city of up to two million inhabitants.
It is the largest investment in Suzano’s 100-year history and has a series of operational and socio-environmental advances.
Walter Schalka, who recently stepped down as Chief Executive of Suzano after an 11 years in charge of the company, said: “The new plant will lay the foundations for future growth opportunities, such as the development of innovative new products from renewable raw material.”
