Pulp Matters 1/2022

Both Agustina Ramos and Azul Díaz are training to be laboratory analysts.

team, so they are generating a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. EMBRACING NEW OPPORTUNITIES While the Paso de los Toros mill is not yet operational, Ramos and Díaz claim that its presence has already had an effect – the population of their city has grown, new businesses have opened and are flourishing, and public transport has become more efficient. “Now during rush hour there are long queues in the supermarket!” says Díaz. What’s more, everyone’s awaiting the completion of a new bridge that will allow easy access across the Río Negro River. “As locals it is great to be able to enjoy all the natural sites that surround Paso de los Toros,” says Ramos. “Attractions like the Rincón del Bonete dam, where locals and visitors can enjoy fishing and other water activities. Even the national media is covering Paso de los Toros more than before.” Both Ramos and Díaz say that their families are “ecstatic” about their prospects and are awaiting their triumphant return from the Fray Bentos mill. As far as the two young ladies are concerned their future can only “go onward and upwards”.

the beautiful experience of having already done an internship under my arm,” says Agustina. “At our young age, already having an internship in a large industrial company is a very pleasant satisfaction,” Díaz adds. THE ROAD BACK HOME A prerequisite for recruits for the Paso de los Toros mill is that they ideally live in the town or nearby areas. UPM has trained future laboratory analysts at its Fray Bentos mill and has a team with 15 years’ experience in the process, as well as a laboratory with an infrastructure similar to that of the future Paso de los Toros mill. Accordingly, Ramos and Díaz started their internship in Fray Bentos in January this year. They have been provided with accommodation in a hotel which includes daily transport to the plant, located 7 kilometres away. They both confess they “couldn’t sleep” the night before their f irst day on the job, but once they started felt welcomed by their laboratory colleagues and have a genuine excitement for everything they’ve learned so far. They are currently training with other colleagues who will be part of the Paso de los Toros laboratory

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