American company surprises and announces investment of more than 500 MILLION in the expansion of a sugar cane plant; The expectation is to generate 420 new jobs

BP Bunge Bioenergia, leader in the ethanol, sugar and bioelectricity sector in Brazil, has just made an announcement that promises to transform the scenario of the sugar-energy industry.

The company revealed a monumental investment of R $ million 530 na plant expansion Pedro Afonso, located in Tocantins.

This project will not only expand the unit's grinding capacity, but will also bring a series of technological and sustainable innovations that promise to positively impact the region. Read on to discover how this expansion could redefine the industry and create new job opportunities.

Investment and expansion details

BP Bunge Bioenergia ended the 23/24 harvest with impressive results. The company recorded a 7% growth in net revenue compared to the 22/23 harvest, totaling R$8,4 billion, and a 39% increase since the initial harvest (20/21).

Since the beginning of its operations, BP Bunge has already invested R$7 billion, of which o new expansion project of the Pedro Afonso plant represents a significant contribution. Expansion works are scheduled to begin in October 2024 and conclude in July 2026.

The expansion will increase the unit's crushing capacity from 2,6 million to 3,4 million tons of sugarcane, increasing the company's total capacity from 32,4 million to 33,2 million tons.

Increase in the production capacity of BP Bunge Bioenergia and the impact on the region

The expansion will bring a significant increase in ethanol and renewable energy production capacity. The Pedro Afonso plant will have its ethanol production capacity increased from 200 million to 280 million liters per harvest, an increase of 40%.

Furthermore, the unit will increase its energy cogeneration capacity to 185 GWh/year, which represents an additional volume capable of lighting a city of around 10 thousand inhabitants. According to Geovane Consul, CEO of BP Bunge Bioenergia, “the expansion will allow the company to expand its production capacity and maintain its sustainable growth objectives”.

Technological and sustainable innovations

The expansion project includes several sustainable innovations, such as the planting of 6 thousand new hectares of sugarcane and the installation of 20 new irrigation pivots operated with renewable energy generated by the plant itself.

In addition, a localized vinasse loading and application system for fertigation will be inaugurated, a technique that has already been successful in other BP Bunge units. The use of vinasse in fertigation will be expanded to 96% of the 450 thousand hectares under the company's management.

Impact on the job market with the BP Bunge Bioenergia initiative

The expansion of Pedro Afonso plant will have a significant impact on job creation in the region. BP Bunge expects the creation of 420 new direct and indirect jobs, bringing the total number of jobs to 1.671, an increase of 33%. With the executive phase of the project starting in October 2024, around 600 people will be mobilized during the works, which are expected to last until July 2026.

With the expansion of the Pedro Afonso plant, BP Bunge Bioenergia reinforces its position as one of the main employers and investors in the region.

The investment of R$530 million will not only expand the company's production capacity, but will also contribute to the creation of jobs and sustainability in the sugar-energy sector.

What other similar investments could emerge in the bioenergy sector? Share your predictions in the comments!