The mapa project operation started in Arauco
Corporate
A significant milestone occurred on January 20th at Arauco’s MAPA project.
At 1:43 AM, the first bale of pulp manufactured entirely at the new mill, located in Arauco in the Bio Bio Region, was produced.
This is a new step forward in the start-up process that began last December 29th, consolidating the operation of this modern industrial facility, which required an investment of more than US$2.8 billion, with an average of 8,500 workers (more than 80% of them from the Region), who carried out the work for four years, facing the difficulties inherent to a monumental construction such as this one, but also having to overcome the challenges imposed by the pandemic.
Local employability.
During the extensive participation process prior to and during construction, ARAUCO supported a series of initiatives aimed at promoting local employment and local investment by implementing the E+E (Employability and Entrepreneurship) Agency.
In addition, MAPA stood out for the high presence of women workers, reaching a peak of more than 700 in jobs as diverse as crane operation, bus driving, scaffolding assembly, reinforcing metal bars, or master builders in structures, piping, and civil works.
As MAPA begins regular operations, it is expected to create close to 1,000 new jobs, both in the operation of the new plant and in transportation and associated services.
In the area of Training, MAPA has been able to leave skills in place, mainly in local workers. Thus, through the implementation of 5 programs, more than 1,500 people were trained in different trades.
MAPA is also an important driver of the local economy. To date, purchases of goods and services have been made for close to 20 billion pesos. These are resources that remain entirely in the area.
In addition to the above, there is a portfolio of socio-environmental projects for more than 30 million dollars with a series of works and programs agreed upon with the community.
Training.
Six years ago, ARAUCO and Duoc UC created Campus Arauco, a unique professional institute in Chile, which has become a benchmark for dual education. Throughout the years, more than 1,400 students have been trained, and more than 250 ARAUCO employees have been part of this process as tutors. More than 85% of Campus Arauco graduates have been employed in multiple companies, not just in the Bio Bio region, but also in the rest of the country.
In the case of the ARAUCO company, 71 professionals were trained at the Campus, 40 of whom are already part of the team of professionals in charge of the operation of Line 3, MAPA.
Environment.
Responsible environmental management is a priority for ARAUCO and MAPA has significant environmental optimizations. Even as pulp production increases, ARAUCO will keep a demanding environmental performance with the highest technology and efficiency standards.
The increase in production is accompanied by careful environmental management, a seal that was also incorporated into MAPA’s construction process. Another of the project’s virtues is that it includes a set of responsible environmental management measures, such as research programs, comprehensive environmental monitoring plans, and the implementation of socio-environmental measures.
Advancing in research programs is essential to strengthening study and monitoring efforts. We promoted the Ecosystem Studies Program of the Arauco Gulf, PREGA (Spanish acronym), to contribute to research and environmental knowledge of the area. The latter refers to a consortium of universities working with ARAUCO on land and sea monitoring. Together with the Ministry of the Environment, PREGA has developed studies on the ecology and avifauna of the Carampangue Wetland as part of its declaration as a Nature Sanctuary. Furthermore, within the framework of dialogue with fishermen’s organizations in the area, PREGA supports productive innovation initiatives for the development of local artisanal fishing.
Energy.
Furthermore, MAPA will continue to generate clean and renewable energy thanks to the construction of an electric cogeneration system using forest biomass. In addition to supplying the plant with clean energy, a surplus of approximately 166 MW will be produced and delivered to the National Electric System (SEN, in Spanish) through an Electric Transmission Line, the construction of which was also part of the project.
