AkzoNobel's Specialty Chemicals business completes the expansion of its “Chemical Island” facility in Brazil to support a major project for Brazilian forestry company Fibria. Reportedly the world's leading producer of eucalyptus pulp from planted forests, Fibria has invested $2.2 billion to more than double pulp capacity at its mill in Três Lagoas to 3.25 million tons per year.
The expansion of the Chemical Island (a concept developed by AkzoNobel) includes the installation of a second chlorine dioxide plant and increased space for storage and logistics. The Chemical Island concept provides pulp mill customers with a sustainable solution for the production and supply of bleaching chemicals and services for other chemical processes, according to AkzoNobel.
"We are a dedicated partner with Fibria and have now supplied five of their six chlorine dioxide units, including the two at Três Lagoas," says Antonio Carlos Francisco, general manager of bleaching chemicals South America for AkzoNobel's Pulp and Performance Chemicals business.
"The close proximity to our customer provides important sustainability benefits by reducing transportation and we also reduce our carbon footprint by operating the Chemical Island with 100% bio-energy from biomass that derives from the pulp mill."
For more information, visit: www.akzonobel.com
