Objectives

Sustainable and responsible production of greenfield pulp mill that contributes to the growth of the local and national economy

Scope

• Concepción
• Amambay
• San Pedro

Target groups and final beneficiaries

The total population of the Departments of Concepción, Amambay, and San Pedro is 770,000 people. The plant will be located in the Department of Concepción, where the capital has a population of around 78,000. It is estimated that 4,000 direct jobs will be created (among the three components) and 36,000 indirect jobs will be created in the region. 8.000 people will work at the peak of plant´s construction.

Main activities and expected results

Forestry component

The forestry area covers 185,000 ha, with 162 million trees to be planted.

Industrial component

The industrial area spans 1,300 ha. Production will be FSC certified, and at full capacity, it will produce 1.8 million tons of cellulose per year, making the project one of the largest pulp mills on the continent.

Logistic and Energy

The plant will generate energy from biomass, producing 220 MW per hour. The government has granted to this project the first independent energy production and transmission license. Additionally, the project include building a private harbor to transport cellulose via the Paraguay River to Uruguay (1,200 km), and then for export.

Education and social protection (EU)

• Strengthen professional technical education and training, and consolidate the National Qualifications System to meet labor market demand, particularly in Concepción, Amambay, and San Pedro.
• Improve access to and retention in the educational system, aiming to enhance learning outcomes, with a focus on the most vulnerable groups in Concepción, Amambay, and San Pedro.
• Increase the employability of young people, especially those from the most vulnerable groups in Concepción, Amambay, and San Pedro.
• The EU funds, € 22 M, will accompany the greenfield pulp mill investment, but will not be part of the budget of Paracel.
• The EU funds will be implemented through two projects on the areas of Education and Social Protection. These projects will be executed by institutions accredited by the EU to implement EU cooperation projects around the world. The EU will select these institutions during 2025.
• The selected accredited institutions might need to hire specific education and social protection expertise (institutions and experts) to deliver some of the project activities.