This project aims at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions from the iron and steel sector in the Brazilian State of Minas Gerais, by (i) developing and demonstrating enhanced, clean conversion technologies for renewable, biomass-based charcoal production, and (ii) implementing an effective, supportive policy framework.

The renewable biomass resources for charcoal production are obtained from sustainably grown eucalyptus plantations. The use of renewable charcoal provides an alternative development path to mitigate large quantities of global greenhouse gas emissions by improving resource efficiency during the charcoal conversion process and by offsetting the use of mineral cokes for pig iron production. The Project will push the status of clean charcoal conversion technologies from the level of small-scale pilots by the industry to successful demonstration of advanced commercial production facilities.