Environmental and social impact assessment

We strongly believe that industrial investments will positively impact regional development and improve opportunities for education, employment, connectivity as well as availability and access to services.

A project of this scale brings visible changes in the affected communities. Besides jobs, training and business opportunities for local individuals and entrepreneurs, there will be changes like increasing traffic and social unrest that require mitigation and management.

Potential social impacts have been identified and UPM continues active dialogue and cooperation with local communities, authorities and other stakeholders to jointly seek solutions to prevent and minimise any potential disturbances and to boost the positive opportunities created.

Based on the environmental studies done by international and local experts for the Paso de los Toros pulp mill and also drawing on the extensive environmental monitoring data systematically gathered for the UPM Fray Bentos pulp mill for over 15 years, the direct impact of the mill on the Rio Negro River is expected to be minimal due to the application of Best Available Techniques (BAT) in water use and effluent treatment processes. The long term average annual use of water is less than 1% of the river’s average flow rate in Paso de los Toros. Water effluent will be strictly monitored by UPM and by Uruguay’s authorities.

Existing data from local environmental studies indicate that prior to the start-up of the Paso de los Toros pulp mill the nutrient load has grown rapidly in the river and water quality is deteriorating. Improving the quality of the water requires actions from all riverside stakeholders and industries. The State of Uruguay has launched the Rio Negro Initiative to improve the status of the river. Four projects have so far been kicked off within this initiative including research and awareness building on the quality of the river water.

UPM has funded the improvement of the municipal wastewater treatment plant and restoration of the municipal landfill in Paso de los Toros as part of its community investments.

One of the main conclusions of the environmental impact assessment is that the existing eutrophication will continue in the river if no measures are taken to improve the water quality​. With the pulp mill and the planned measures, the Rio Negro water quality would remain at the current level​.​ With the implementation of the Rio Negro initiative and ensuring that best practices are carried out by all parties, the water quality could be improved in the medium to long term.