Frequently Asked Questions

The project of approximately 570 km long, may cross 46 municipalities: Analândia, Anhembi, Araras, Barueri, Botucatu, Caieiras, Cajamar, Campinas, Carapicuíba, Cordeirópolis, Corumbataí, Cosmópolis, Cotia, Cravinhos, Cubatão, Descalvado, Embu, Franco da Rocha, Guarujá, Iracemápolis, Itapecerica da Serra, Itupeva, Jundiaí, Leme, Limeira, Louveira, Luis Antônio, Osasco, Paulínia, Piracicaba, Pirassununga, Rio Claro, Rio das Pedras, Saltinho, Santa Bárbara D Oeste, Santa Cruz da Conceição, Santa Gertrudes, Santa Rita do Passa Quatro, Santos, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, São Simão, Serrana, Sumaré, and Vinhedo.

Mainly ethanol and, eventually, in some specific segments, other types of fuel as biodiesel and gas.

When fully operational, the pipeline may be able to transport to up 16 (sixteen) million of cubic meters of ethanol a year.

All the companies interested in using the logistic service of ethanol transport of Uniduto project.

The project is estimated to begin its operations for the 2013 harvest season, transporting 2013/2014 harvest season; but it shall be fully operational up to 2015.

The project in under the basic engineering stage, and  Environmental Impact Study (EIA, Estudo de Impacto Ambiental) and its respective RIMA (Relatório de Impacto ao Meio Ambiente, Report on the Environmental Impact). Both are planned to be concluded by the end of the first half of 2010.

A pipeline is a means of transportation comprising a set of pipes (or custom-made ducts) to transport bulk gas or liquid products, through pumping or compression, in a faster and secure way and in large scale. Uniduto pipeline will transport only liquid products (fuel).

Uniduto project pipes are made in plain carbon steel, according to the specific Technical Norms requirements. They have a special enclosure in order to avoid corrosion, and for mechanical protection. The dimensions may vary according to the volume to be transported, the distance run, and the ground of the segment, but they may be from 10 inches (25 centimeters) up to 30 inches (75 centimeters) diameter. The pipe lifespan is open, depending on a good maintenance and no abrasion (act or effect of scraping or scratching by friction) caused by the product transported. In Brazil there are pipelines in operation for over 40 years, and abroad, approximately 70 years.

A mooring buoy is a loading buoy anchored offshore connected to the terminal on-shore through an underwater pipeline. The ships are connected to the mooring buoy through oversleeves, and, from the pumping of the terminal, it is possible to load them.

The transportation via pipelines offers many benefits and advantages:

• Cost reduction in ethanol transport;
• Creation of the infrastructure needed to offload this increasing ethanol demand;
• Integration of different means of transportation;
• Generation of jobs and more money;
• Less traffic and number of accidents with trucks in the roads of São Paulo;
• Reduction of pollution in the  atmosphere, as gases causing the greenhouse effect;
• Avoids the generation of solid residues (tires, oil, replacement parts, lubricating oil, etc.);
• Less burn of fossile fuel in the ecosystem;
• Cost-effective means of transportation, better than other means of transportation;
• Very reliable:
  • Uninterrupted operations;
  • Transport means not impacted by bad weather conditions;
• High level of automation in product handling;
• Relevant solution for the current logistic bottleneck in the ethanol chain;
• Less potential of environmental impact, in the stage of the implementation of the operation, and compared to the implementation of highways and/or railways; and
•  More secure for the environment and for the population (less risk of accidents).

This is very difficult to happen, because the pipeline is designed according local and foreign rules, being extremely safe. On the other hand, the security and control procedures adopted enable any abnormal situation to be detected, before any leaking, avoiding environmental impacts. Throughout the pipeline there will be blocking valves. In case of an eventual leakage, they will detect it and stop the product flow.

Uniduto Risk Communication Program will inform the population what to do in case of any leakage. Uniduto will also stop the leakage, check the impact, and solve them.

Since its inception, Uniduto was conceived as a green company. In addition to comply with the labor, environmental legislation, and their restrictions, it also complies with the social laws and rules required for the development of its project and its appropriate operation. Uniduto defends its activities based in the sustainable development, the ongoing improvement, and the prevention of socio-environmental risks resulting from its operations.

Socially, it may be promoted some meetings with the population living in the affected areas, as well with organizations, public and private institutions, to talk about Uniduto project and its impact in the region. In addition, the Relationship Channel created by Uniduto and already available will be always open so as the interested parties may contact the company as needed. Uniduto will also be able to talk to you when requested. This can also be a communication channel with the population to announce events, workshops, and seminars.

Concerning the environment, all and any impact on the environment, natural or anthropic (transformed by the man – cities, villages, roads, plantations, pastures, etc.) identified shall be mitigated or compensated throughout the environmental licensing stage, and after the conclusion of such process, it will be monitored continuously, based on the implementation of programs and follow-up and monitoring actions as programs including Social Communication, environmental education, environmental control of the construction, and forest compensation programs, among others.