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Billion-dollar investment in Cubatão repositions chemical industry with focus on energy efficiency, emission reduction, and technological advancement, marking new phase of the paulista industrial pole and increasing competitiveness with public support and adoption of a cleaner production matrix aligned with international standards.
The modernization of the Unipar Carbocloro factory in Cubatão, on the coast of São Paulo, involved investment exceeding R$ 1 billion and marked the full adoption of membrane technology, repositioning the unit within the company’s industrial strategy and elevating its operational standards.
With this structural change, the complex began to operate as the largest membrane-based chlorine production unit in South America, consolidating a significant technological leap in the chemical sector and attracting the federal government’s attention to environmentally focused industrial initiatives.
Just a few months after the completion of the works, delivered in December 2025, the site received a visit from the acting president, Geraldo Alckmin, on April 20, 2026, reinforcing the political and economic symbolism of the project.
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BNDES financing boosts industrial modernization
A significant part of the investment received public support, as R$ 672.9 million was financed by BNDES, through lines aimed at sustainability and the modernization of industrial processes considered strategic for the national economy.
This package included R$ 400 million from the Climate Fund and another R$ 272.9 million from the BNDES Finem Environment program, structured to encourage initiatives with the potential for emission reduction and improvement of energy efficiency.
Throughout the intervention, the company promoted the complete replacement of mercury and diaphragm-based systems with the membrane method, currently considered safer and less harmful to the environment, as well as technically more efficient.
As a direct result of this change, the São Paulo plant began to play a central role in the company’s productive reorganization, while also consolidating the migration of 210,000 equivalent tons per year to the new technological model.
CO₂ reduction and energy efficiency in chlorine production
Among the main projected environmental gains, the expectation of reduction of about 70,000 tons of CO₂ per year stands out, based on the emission levels recorded by the company in 2020 before modernization.
In addition, the new configuration allowed for an approximately 40% decrease in specific thermal and electrical energy consumption, a factor that directly impacts the competitiveness of production and reduces operational costs in the medium and long term.
Another relevant indicator involves the 18% reduction in total energy consumption of the unit, a result that reinforces the efficiency of the new system and highlights the importance of technological upgrades in energy-intensive sectors.
At the same time, the operation has begun to eliminate approximately 150 tons of industrial waste annually, a significant advancement in the production routine that contributes to the reduction of historical environmental liabilities associated with the chemical industry.
By fully adopting membrane technology, the plant also aligns with the guidelines of the Minamata Convention, an international agreement that establishes restrictions on the use of mercury and guides environmental control policies in various countries.
Construction started in 2023 increases capacity and creates jobs
The modernization process began in September 2023 and was conducted as one of the main operational transformation projects ever executed by the company in its recent industrial structure.
During the implementation phase, the approved financing anticipated the generation of 1,232 direct and indirect jobs, contributing to the local economic dynamics and the movement of the production chain linked to construction and the chemical industry.
At the same time, the company indicated that the new configuration of the plant creates physical conditions for future expansions, a factor considered strategic within the growth planning and capacity expansion.
Renewable energy reinforces decarbonization strategy
In addition to the modernization of equipment, the unit is now powered by renewable energy generated by the company itself, reinforcing the commitment to reducing indirect emissions associated with energy consumption.
In this context, the operation receives electricity from wind and solar assets contracted by the company, including the Tucano Wind Complex located in Bahia and the Lar do Sol Solar Park in Minas Gerais.
This integration between industrial production and clean sources is part of a broader strategy aimed at decarbonization and the increasing use of renewable energy across all of the company’s operational units.
Government announces incentives for the chemical industry
During the visit to the unit, the acting president highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening the chemical sector, with an emphasis on sustainability and competitiveness in the international scenario.
Among the measures mentioned is the regulation of the Special Sustainability Program for the Chemical Industry, Presiq, presented as a tool to stimulate investments and modernize the national production chain.
Under this program, the government projects the release of R$ 15 billion in tax credits over five years, with an estimated average of R$ 3 billion annually allocated to inputs and new industrial projects.
In addition, the Special Regime of the Chemical Industry, Reiq, will have R$ 3.1 billion in 2026, functioning as a transition mechanism until the full implementation of the new model planned for 2027.
Cubatão reinforces transition to a low-carbon economy
Inserted in this scenario, Unipar’s project is presented as an example of industrial investment capable of reducing environmental impacts without altering the declared nominal capacity of the plant.
Even without formally expanding the installed production, the company claims that the new configuration helps to reduce fixed and variable costs, as well as increase operational efficiency and allow for an increase of up to 5% in product delivery.
This set of factors helps to explain the strategic relevance of the Cubatão unit, which now occupies a central position within the company’s Brazilian operation.
Historically associated with high levels of pollution, the city has been consolidating a profile change by concentrating projects aimed at a low-carbon economy and the environmental requalification of its industrial park.
In this context, initiatives funded by BNDES and supported by public policies appear as instruments to modernize old structures, preserve local production, and reduce emissions in energy-intensive industrial sectors.
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