In the initial test, the company produced 57,000 tons of pellets, with about 25% of the biochar being vegetable in origin. The test was carried out at Vale’s pelletizing segment in São Luís (MA).
 
“There was (on the market) a great fear of using charcoal; companies were afraid of impacting the quality (of the pellet). But we managed to break some taboos, we proved that it is feasible, that it can be done successfully,” said Vale’s executive manager of pelletizing engineering Fabio Brandão.
 
According to the Pledge Times, the company now plans to work on the possibility of replacing 100% of the fossil coal used in all of its 12 pellet plants. This would allow the company to reduce its emissions by 16%.
 
“This is the moment, we have to do it. This anthracite coal cannot remain in the pellet plant,” said engineer Rodrigo Boyer, who led the initiative.
 
Company officials said there is still no deadline for a definitive replacement of the fossil product in the composition of the pellets, but they said that the prospects are excellent.
 
The company reportedly is targeting net zero carbon emissions by 2050.