VITORIA - Brazilian miner Vale inaugurated on Tuesday its first iron-ore briquette plant in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo, a product that could help its steelmaking clients reduce carbon emissions.
The briquette, which is produced through the low-temperature agglomeration of high-quality iron-ore, could be used to replace sinters, pellets and granules in steelmaking, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 10% compared to the traditional blast furnace process.
The new plant, located in the city of Tubarao, will have a production capacity of two-million metric tons per year and Vale already has around 30 companies interested in testing the new product.
A second plant, with a capacity to produce four-million tons, is expected to start operating at the beginning of 2024.