Brazil stepping up research into energy transition minerals

Brazil’s geological service SGB is drawing up a map showing the country's potential in minerals for the energy transition.

“The SGB, as one of the main generators of geoscientific knowledge in Brazil, works on essential research to boost the energy transition and ensure that the country advances further in decarbonization. We are committed to developing effective solutions to these complex problems and, thus, contributing to Brazil consolidating itself as a leader in this process," SGB president Inácio Melo said in a release.

The measures being taken by the agency related to the energy transition include research to identify the potential for the production of strategic minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, copper and nickel. 

"These are high-tech raw materials that are extremely necessary for the construction of the new energy matrix, which will no longer be based on polluting fossil fuels, switching to a low-carbon matrix, reducing the emission of greenhouse gases," said SGB.

VALE BRIQUETTE PLANT 

It is not just the government that has been working on new initiatives to reduce emissions.

Brazilian mining giant Vale officially opened on Tuesday the world's first iron ore briquette plant for blast furnaces at its Tubarão unit in Vitória city.  

The product developed by Vale has the potential to revolutionize the steel industry, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the blast furnace by up to 10% or making it possible to produce zero-emission steel in the future, when green hydrogen becomes available, the company said in a statement.

"We are offering a product that will support our customers, the steel manufacturers, in adapting to the emission reduction targets being adopted by governments around the world, contributing to the fight against climate change," said Vale's CEO Eduardo Bartolomeo. 

A second Vale plant in Tubarão is scheduled to open at the beginning of next year. Together, they will have the capacity to produce 6Mt/y for total investment of US$256mn.

According to Vale, more than 30 companies have already shown interest in receiving shipments of briquettes in 2024. The two Tubarão plants will produce around 2.5Mt of iron ore briquettes next year, the company said, and production will gradually increase until it reaches 6Mt/y.