Acesita considers plans to buy forests abroad

Acesita Energética, the energy subsidiary of Brazilian stainless steelmaker Acesita, is studying the possibility of buying forests abroad to enhance its charcoal production, a company spokesman told BNamericas. The spokesman did not give further details. Coal or charcoal, used to make pig iron, is a key input in the steelmaking process. The steelmaker's energy unit is developing a new type of eucalyptus to increase its charcoal output. The company produces 123t/y of wood per hectare resulting in 35 cu. m. of charcoal per hectare. With the new HC-1528 eucalyptus, its annual production could reach 263t of wood, or 60 cu. m. of charcoal per hectare. Acesita, controlled by European steel group Arcelor and local pension funds, has installed capacity of 1.1Mt/y of crude steel and is Latin America's sole integrated stainless steelmaker.