Brazilian steelmaker Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) and Japan-based Itochu Corporation have signed a memorandum on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which includes business partnerships with companies in Japan and abroad to decarbonize the metals and mining industries.
CSN is a major Brazilian steelmaker and a strong local iron ore producer after Vale.
Itochu, which owns a stake at CSN’s Casa de Pedra iron ore mine in Brazil, has agreed with CSN to collaborate on decarbonization and digital transformation efforts “to increase operational efficiency at the Casa de Pedra mines and to contribute to decarbonization at the mines and CSN steelworks (area),” Itochu said in a statement.
The Japanese company said the agreement extends to decarbonization initiatives in both the metals and mining industries, which might improve operations at the CSN Group companies.
Such initiatives include low-carbon ironmaking, hydrogen and ammonia, as well as Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) technologies.
Itochu said the digital transformation initiatives aim to “improve operational efficiency, cut costs, and increase safety in metal and mineral resources.”
More specifically, Itochu commenced in April this year a project with CSN and GE Digital for CSN’s Casa de Pedra iron ore mine.
At a first stage, both companies plan to implement solutions to allow managers to visualize operational, administrative, and financial data, so they can conduct preventive maintenance at plants and equipment in order to improve the efficiency of operations.
“In the second stage and beyond, the aim is for further (improve efficiency) by linking data from mines to ports,” it said.