Friday, July 4, 2025
Arauco Sucuriú, currently being built in Brazil, is set to become the world’s largest single-phase pulp mill. This monumental project requires precise planning, top-tier equipment, and seamless collaboration to ensure its successful completion. The Sucuriú project in Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil, has strategic importance for Arauco as they diversify their pulp production’s locations.
“Arauco has been looking into expanding pulp production in Brazil for years. Our target was to enhance our competitive position, and Brazil has the required conditions, including logistics infrastructure, skilled people, and the right environment for trees to grow. We selected Mato Grosso do Sul state and the city of Inocencia as the location for our project,” explains Iván Chamorro, Senior Vice-President Forestry & Woodpulp Business for the Arauco Group.
A full mill delivery from Valmet
“Valmet is a key player in this project, delivering all the key process areas in an EPC model. We’re very happy so far with our relationship and Valmet’s commitment. We’re very confident that together we’ll be able to deliver the best mill. We know we’re going to face challenges, but with strong communication between the technical teams and at the management level, we can face these challenges and be successful together,” Chamorro explains.
“Sucuriú will be a state-of-the-art mill with low water consumption and low emissions. We’re basically targeting a zero-waste mill that doesn’t send any residues to landfill. Additionally, we’re going to use gasified biomass instead of fossil fuel for the lime kiln. The mill will produce more than 400 megawatts of renewable energy, of which about 50 percent will be sold to the national Brazilian grid,” says Carlos Altimiras, CEO of Arauco Brazil.
Future-proof automation solutions
The mill automation system will be Valmet’s latest distributed control system, Valmet DNAe, supported with remote connectivity and Industrial Internet solutions. “With Valmet’s automation systems, mill-wide optimization and advanced process controls, we’re building a base for autonomous operations,” Altimiras adds.
A comprehensive sustainability approach
In addition to environmental performance, Arauco is focusing specially on social and economic sustainability for both the project phase and as a long-term commitment to the community.A comprehensive sustainability approach. In addition to environmental performance, Arauco is focusing specially on social and economic sustainability for both the project phase and as a long-term commitment to the community.
“The Sucuriú project will bring dynamism to the local economy,” says Chamorro. “We’re going to have more than 15,000 people working on site during construction, and during the operation phase we’ll have about 6,000 people working in the forestry, logistics, mill, and support services. These are stable long-term quality jobs.” Chamorro added.
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