Pulp Matters 1/2022

Paso de los Toros pulp mill project right on track At the beginning of 2022 the number of people working at the various construction sites of the UPM Paso de los Toros mill project reached a peak of over 6,500. The installation phase with mechanical erection continued to progress in all main process areas and the electrification, instrumentation and automation erection works had all started. Most large civil works have also been completed. The mill is expected to start up by the end of the first quarter of 2023.

New nursery nurtures local know-how Durazno, in central Uruguay. The nursery occupies a 100-hectare area, of which 18 hectares are dedicated to production and comprises, amongst other facilities, 4.5 hectares of greenhouses, 2 hectares of outdoor nurseries and a large central working hall. It is here that the majority of the 120 new employees will manually classify the best Eucalyptus dunnii and Eucalyptus grandis seedlings by selecting cuttings from a mother plant. The USD 25 million investment has already created a significant number of jobs during the construction phase. Once operational, this state-of-the-art UPM is starting the operations of its third tree nursery in Sarandí del Yí, communities. As in UPM’s two existing nurseries, women will make up around 60% of the workforce. In April UPM, the UTU university (La Universidad del Trabajo del Uruguay) and the Benigno Paiva Institute completed training courses in nursery work for 200 people from the region. Training was open to all and free of charge – and attendance exceeded all expectations. The objective was to learn about various nursery tasks during 60 hours of theoretical and practical training at the facilities of UTU and the Institute in Sarandí del Yí. These courses are an example of UPM’s aim to strengthen local capabilities and enhance the employability of people from rural communities. nursery will become a source of development for surrounding

Virtual showcase of Paso de los Toros now open You can now take a tour around the pulp mill site, forest plantations, surrounding community and port terminal by entering our virtual experience. Did you know that after the start-up of the mill, some 500 trucks loaded with eucalyptus logs will enter the Paso de los Toros mill gate every day to keep the mill running? Visit upmpulpexperience.com to find out more about this and many more facts.

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