(akzonobel) -- AkzoNobel is planning to invest EUR80 million in the construction of a new pulp Chemical Island facility in Brazil. The plant, operated by the company's Pulp and Paper Chemicals business, Eka Chemicals, will supply the Suzano Maranhao pulp mill. This is AkzoNobel's second largest investment in Brazil in the past 12 months and further expands Eka Chemicals' sustainability-focused Chemical Island concept.
"This 15-year agreement emphasizes the importance of high growth markets for AkzoNobel and will help drive the company's medium-term strategy of doubling revenue in Brazil to EUR1.5 billion," said Rob Frohn, AkzoNobel Executive Committee member responsible for Specialty Chemicals.
The investment will involve supplying, storing and handling all chemicals for the 1.5 million ton per year pulp mill, which is being constructed in Imperatriz, Maranhao, Brazil. The mill is expected to come on stream in the last quarter of 2013.
The new facility will expand AkzoNobel's well-established pulp and paper activities in Brazil. The business already successfully runs Chemical Islands, as well as other production units, on several customer sites. It also operates bleaching and paper chemical plants in Jacarei, Rio de Janeiro, Tres Lagoas and Jundiai.