With investments exceeding R$100 million, Usina Laguna begins sugar production in MS

 Usina Laguna took an important step towards expanding its operations in Mato Grosso do Sul. With investments totaling R$105 million, the plant began producing sugar, a strategy that expands the company's product portfolio, which until now had been focused on producing ethanol and bioelectricity from sugarcane.

With investments in a modern structure, the new sugar factory has the capacity to process up to 120 thousand tons per year and has a warehouse for 54 thousand tons of the product. The focus will be on the production of VHP sugar. (Very High Polarization), intended for export.

“With its entry into the sugar market, Usina Laguna is taking an important step forward in its trajectory, verticalizing its production from sugarcane and strengthening its commitment to the sustainable growth of Mato Grosso do Sul. This expansion not only consolidates our operation, but also reinforces our partnership with Batayporã and the entire region, where we generate jobs, boost the economy, and make an important contribution to local development,” highlights Romildo Cunha, Commercial Director of Usina Laguna.

According to Romildo Cunha, Usina Laguna is also making progress in the cogeneration of electricity (bioelectricity) using sugarcane bagasse from its production as raw material. The plant was already self-sufficient in energy and last year (2024) invested in expanding its generation capacity to 75 thousand MWh/year (Megawatt-hours) with 50 thousand MWh/year sold and distributed in the National Interconnected System (SIN), feeding the grid with clean and renewable energy. R$ 50 million were invested to enhance cogeneration, which now has a new 138 kV (kilovolt) transmission line that is 11 kilometers long and modern equipment that allows for better use of steam in the industrial process.

In addition to offering new products, the expansion generates new job opportunities in the region, reinforcing the 900 direct jobs already maintained by the plant, whose workforce is concentrated in the municipalities of Batayporã, Nova Andradina and Taquarussu.

With the investments, Usina Laguna is expected to change its production mix in the current harvest, prioritizing sugar (55%) over ethanol (45%). The expectation for this season is to process 1.65 million tons of sugarcane, 65 million liters of ethanol, 120 thousand tons of sugar and 40 thousand MWh of bioelectricity.