Alliance Uruguay
Introduction of clean mercury-free production in Uruguay as a more environmentally friendly alternative
The plant, located in Canelones, Uruguay, was established to provide the local market with an alternative supplier of chlor-alkali products. The market had historically been controlled by a single mercury-based technology factory for almost 60 years. Chlorum’s factory not only provided cleaner products but also introduced competition in a monopolistic market.
Our factory has been in operation since 2017 and expanded production to 12 tons of chlorine per day in 2020. We supply sodium hypochlorite, hydrochloric acid, and caustic soda to the local market and neighboring countries.
Positive Impact
Energy Efficient
Membrane technology is approximately 30% more energy efficient than the competition in the market, reducing energy usage per ton o product produced. The energy matrix in Uruguay is currently close to 97% from renewable resources, as is the electricity used by the plant.
Circular Economy
The solid effluents (brine sludge) are donated to a local company for the manufacture of bricks, eliminating entirely the solid effluents generated in the production process.
Environment
Substitution of products produced using mercury technology and an active campaign to educate the consumer of the alternative to mercury production. Chlorum created a “Mercury-Free” seal which is now under the process of certification by a third partier certifier.
Economic
Helped increase the competitivity of the local industry by providing an alternative supplier in a region that traditionally had a single supplier.
UN Minamata Convention
Uruguay is now capable of complying with the UN’s Minamata Convention which it signed and ratified into law, mandating the closure of all mercury production plants by 2025.