The cause of the breakage of the Fray Bentos plant was the cause of the transfer hose. In 2023, at UPM’s second Uruguayn factory, the rainwater was mixed with lye and the aquatic organisms died.
In Uruguay, UPM’s Fray Bentos eucalyptus factory has had problems with acid chemicals, sulfuric acid this week.
About a thousand liters of sulfuric acid were leaked on Monday when it was moved from the ship to the quay area.
The rescue measures did not cause any personal injury to the accident. The escape acid has been assembled from the leak site and, according to the company, no environmental damage.
Fray Bentos authorities, the fire brigade and the environmental authorities of the country were also informed of the situation.
Uruguay’s Environment Minister Edgardo Ortuño stated in the bulletinthat the effect of the leak was not significant. However, he emphasized that the ministry is present and follows the industry in the area.
UPM pulp mills both in Uruguay and in Finland Sulfuric acid is used as part of the pulp manufacturing process. However, UPM is not a side stream in pulp production.
In many factories, smells are utilized
Today, more and more pulp mills have a recovery plant that converts sulfur -containing odor gases into sulfuric acid in the processes. For example, Metsä Group’s Kemi bioproduct mill has such a plant.
Suzano, the world’s largest pulp manufacturer Suzano, has also told about a similar recovery plant in Brazil at its factory at Ribas Do Rio Pardo. As a result of recovery, the pulp mill can be self -sufficient in sulfuric acid, which reduces the risks associated with transportation.
Chemical leak previously also at another Uruguayn factory
In addition to Fray Bentos, UPM has also had problems with chemicals at another Uruguay plant.
In August 2023, at the Paso de Los Toros pulp mill, the alkaline lye was mixed with rainwater and leaked from stormwater through the soil to the stream, where it killed the aquatic organisms.
The leak was due to the technical fault of the pool and the fact that the pool was not intended to store significant amounts of chemicals.