ETH to produce sugar in new plant
O Estado de S. Paulo
Usina Conquista do Pontal, opened yesterday by ETH Bioenergia in the region of Pontal do Paranapanema, in the interior of São Paulo, will receive investments of more than R$ 70 million (US$ 40.1 million) during the next 10 months to start producing sugar. The new plant started its operations yesterday, with crushing capacity for 2.7 million tons of sugar cane and production of 140 million liters of ethanol a year. R$ 400 million (US$ 232.6 million) have been invested so far.
The information was provided by the ETH Human Resources and Sustainability Director, Luiz Pereira de Araújo Filho. According to him, unlike the two Greenfield projects opened by ETH in October - the Rio Claro Unit, located in Caçu (GO), and the Santa Luzia, in Nova Alvorada do Sul (MS) - which will only produce ethanol, Conquista do Pontal will also produce sugar, taking advantage of the better logistics of the State. The first sacks of sugar of Conquista should leave the plant in September, 2010.
With the opening of Conquista do Pontal, ETH Bioenergia - which belongs to the Odebrecht group - concludes the first phase of its operations, which includes the opening of three Greenfield projects in three distinct centers of production. With a focus on ethanol and bioelectricity, the units have also the inclusion, in their construction, of updated concepts of sustainability in common.
According to Araújo, the plants were built so as to reduce the consumption of water and electric energy.
The crops that supply the plants are already grown 100% mechanized. According to the officer, Usina Alcídia, a plant purchased ready by ETH, is being turned into an even cleaner unit. So far, 65% of its harvest is mechanized. Located in the same region of Conquista do Pontal, Alcídia has until 2014 to mechanize its harvest in 100%, according to the law in force in the State of São Paulo. In Conquista do Pontal, besides the investments in the production of sugar, another R$ 300 million (US$ 174.4 million) will be invested in order to double the plant crushing installed capacity from to 5.5 million tons per harvest until 2012.