Brazilian miner Vale announced the start of loading tests in its iron ore briquette plant, located in the Tubarão plant, in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo.
According to the company, the product will reduce by 10 percent the emissions of greenhouse gases by the steel industry, a significant mark, as the sector is responsible for an estimated 8 percent of the world’s total emissions.
The company mentioned that the briquette “is produced from the low-temperature agglomeration of high-quality iron ore, using a binder technology solution, which gives the final product high mechanical strength.”
The product also reduces the emission of particulates and gases, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, and eliminates the use of water in its production. In addition to the use in blast furnaces, the briquette can also be used in the direct reduction route, replacing the conventional DRI grade pellets.
The plant in Tubarão is still expected to start operations in 2023, while a second plant should start in the beginning of 2024. Both plants were converted from pellet plants, requiring investments of $256 million.
The company expects to expand its yearly production capacity to 100 million mt of briquettes and pellets after 2030.