(12/01/2015) About 175 truck trips per month are being avoided by Paranapanema with the cabotage’s adoption – navigation next to the coast between the ports of the same country. With this measure, the company can no longer issue 11 000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) this year. The company, which is Brazil’s sole producer of copper, increased the share of cabotage in their transport matrix increasing from 30% to 50% in the use of modal shifts between its Bahia of the plant to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. In addition, the company has operated with cabotage in 100% of displacements in the opposite direction (SP-BA).

Bahia, the company embarks on a monthly basis in the port of Salvador about 8000 tons of cathode (metallic copper plates) produced in Dias d’Ávila to its distribution center in Itatiaia (RJ) and another plant in Santo André (SP ), which transforms the metallic copper plate, copper products (bars, wires, tubes, and laminates). Santo André, the company sends to Dias D’Ávila plant (BA) customers scrap, material recycling and also turns into high purity copper products.

“We are always looking for alternatives to improve our business and at the same time, reduce the impact of our operations. Our intention is to keep the cabotage index by 50% in Bahia shipments to southeastern Brazil in order to avoid dependence on modal and improve competitiveness among suppliers, “says Evandro Pause, industrial director of Paranapanema.

A truck emits an average of 57.1 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per tonne each kilometer driven, while cabotage emits 13.5 grams, according to data from the log in logistics operator with advice calculations in environmental solutions Key associates. Given the benefits of cabotage, Paranapanema also been studying the implementation of modal to the south of the country customers scrap shifts to Bahia.