with a load of 20,000 tons of pulp, departed from Port of Montevideo the first shipment of merchandise from Paso de los Toros and produced by UPM2, which was added to the cargo of 30,000 tons of Fray Bentos, thus forming a milestone that constitutes the beginning of the path so that Uruguay become one of the main exporters of the product worldwide.
The operation generates some 200 jobs, as expressed the president of the National Ports Administration (ANP), Juan Curbelo, during the departure of the ship. was also present the Minister of Transport and Public Works, José Luis Falero, who highlighted that “It is a very important event for the country.”
During the event, along with National Director of Customs, Jaime Borgiani, and authorities of UPM, Falero highlighted the commitment of Uruguay and its political system with this project, apart from the governments of the day. “Contracts and commitments are respected. This has been made clear and it has been like this in the history of our country,” said the official.
The initiative will allow the development of the country with openness to the world, while positioning it in the international competition. “The growth of a country occurs betting on the public administration, but in partnership with private actors,” said the minister.
The positioning of the port as a business development hub of the item, in addition to being in the area of containers, is one of the most significant edges of this fact, raised in turn curbelo.
The president of ANP reported in dialogue with Presidential Communication that the terminal permanently generates about 100 jobs, to which another hundred are added for the loading of cellulose. “Quality jobs are generated, the Port of Montevideo and the pulp industry is projected”, he added.
A key contribution to Uruguay’s GDP
From the Finnish capital company, they expect pulp production to reach up to 2.1 million tons per year, which will increase by 50% the annual production of Uruguay, arriving to 2,066 million dollars. This figure will place the country among the main exporters of the product worldwide.
Such figures mean a positive impact for GDP, which will increase 2% and will partially offset the effects of the drought. In addition, it is expected to provide 290 million dollars of net salaries at an annual level, with 280 million in taxes and social security contributions. At the same time, UPM reported that in this way some 160 MW of surplus renewable energy will be generated that would go to the national grid.
Key to reaching this milestone was the new Paso de los Toros plant, whose construction involved a total investment of 3.470 million dollars.
Delay in the work of the Central Railway
In the debit is the work of the Central Railway, planned to transport the cellulose directly from this plant to the Port of Montevideo, which would allow significant savings.
However, the restoration was postponed again and it will not be inaugurated this month, as planned, but between October and November, raising the logistics costs of the Finnish firm.
The delay had to do with a request from the Municipality of Montevideo, from where they demanded a list of “more than 20 works that are of an important quantification” for the development of the project, including level crossings, elevators and tunnels.
Source: Ambito
