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Billion-dollar project in Mato Grosso do Sul advances to a decisive technical stage, with the assembly of strategic equipment, strong mobilization of workers, and a logistical structure planned to connect future production to the Port of Santos by railway.
The construction of Arauco’s pulp mill in Inocência, Mato Grosso do Sul, has reached approximately 55% completion and advanced to a central phase of industrial assembly with the lifting of the power boiler, essential equipment for future operation.
Carried out on Thursday, April 30, the procedure took place at the Sucuriú Project site, located approximately 331 kilometers from Campo Grande, mobilizing specialized technical teams from the early hours of the day until its completion around noon.
During approximately four hours of continuous operation, the activity was conducted by Enesa Engenharia and required the use of a crane with a capacity exceeding 500 tons, due to the size of the structure and the complexity involved in the precise positioning of the equipment.
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Given this scenario, the lifting of the boiler solidified itself as one of the most relevant milestones of the current stage of the project, indicating consistent progress in the schedule and the transition to a more demanding phase of industrial assembly.
Sucuriú Project in Inocência enters decisive phase
With an investment exceeding R$ 25 billion, the unit under construction is expected to become the largest single-line pulp mill in the world, expanding the company’s presence in the global market and strengthening the production chain in Brazil.
According to the schedule released by the company, operations are expected to begin by the end of 2027, maintaining the planning aligned with the stages of industrial implementation and logistical development.
With an estimated annual capacity of 3.5 million tons of short fiber pulp, the plant was designed to serve both the domestic market and international demand for raw material for the paper industry.
Furthermore, the undertaking marks Arauco’s debut with a pulp mill in Brazilian territory, placing the project among the largest recent industrial investments in the country.
At the same time, the industrial assembly phase intensified activity at the construction site, increasing the number of workers and accelerating the pace of work fronts distributed throughout the construction area.
Currently, approximately 13,000 workers are simultaneously active on site, a number that exceeds the estimated population of Inocência, a municipality with just over 8,000 inhabitants.
This significant volume of labor directly impacts local dynamics, generating increased demand for services, transport, accommodation, and urban infrastructure, even though the focus remains concentrated on project execution.
Power boiler marks progress in industrial assembly
A fundamental element of future operation, the power boiler integrates the system responsible for generating the energy and steam necessary for the industrial plant’s operation, being considered a key component in the production complex.
For this reason, its installation represents the transition to a more robust and technically complex stage of the project, requiring detailed planning and rigorous execution to ensure proper structural alignment.
During the lifting, safety measures, area isolation, and coordination between teams were adopted, ensuring that the equipment was correctly positioned within the previously prepared structure.
Equipment of this size demands high precision throughout the entire process, as small deviations can compromise assembly and impact subsequent stages of industrial installation.
Even with other civil and industrial phases still underway, the completion of this stage indicates that the project has entered a more advanced stage, where multiple fronts begin to operate simultaneously.
The trend, from this point forward, is an intensification of mechanical, electrical, and operational assembly activities, increasing the complexity and volume of interventions at the construction site.
Pulp mill production to go by rail
In terms of logistics, the Sucuriú Project was structured to transport production predominantly by railway, connecting the unit to the Port of Santos, in São Paulo, considered one of the country’s main export corridors.
This integration will be carried out through the Malha Norte (North Network), operated by Rumo, with the support of a new railway branch line under construction specifically to meet the factory’s demand.
The planned section will connect the industrial plant to the railway system in the Aparecida do Taboado region, ensuring direct access to the existing network and enabling large-scale transportation.
According to available public information, the branch line’s extension varies between approximately 45 and 47 kilometers, being designed exclusively for the transport of pulp produced in Inocência.
With this structure, the expectation is to significantly reduce dependence on long-distance road transport, favoring the movement of large volumes with greater logistical efficiency.
The operational planning considers that the railway will be ready to accompany the start of the factory’s activities, scheduled for the end of 2027, ensuring the continuous flow of production.
Furthermore, the project includes the use of dedicated equipment, with an estimated 26 locomotives and 721 wagons exclusively for this operation.
Mato Grosso do Sul reinforces its presence in the pulp sector
With the implementation of the unit in Inocência, Mato Grosso do Sul expands its position as one of the main pulp production hubs in Brazil, consolidating a trajectory of expansion in the sector.
The state already brings together large industrial ventures focused on pulp production, driven by factors such as availability of planted areas, logistical infrastructure, and proximity to export routes.
In Arauco’s case, the global investment in the project was estimated at US$ 4.6 billion, a value equivalent to approximately R$ 25 billion, positioning the venture among the largest recent industrial investments.
Internally, the company treats the initiative as strategic to expand its international operations and strengthen its productive capacity in relevant markets.
With an estimated production of 3.5 million tons per year, the plant will have a scale compatible with large global operations in the pulp sector.
When operational, the unit is expected to produce short-fiber pulp intended for the manufacture of sanitary papers, packaging, specialty papers, and other industrial derivatives.
Meanwhile, the implementation continues with multiple work fronts involving civil works, equipment assembly, and the development of logistical infrastructure associated with the project.
The public schedule maintains the forecast for the start of operations by the end of 2027, conditioned on the completion of installation stages and the necessary tests for full operation.
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