Brazilian niobium firm to replace fossil fuels in its operations

Brazilian niobium miner and integrated producer CBMM reached an agreement with gas distributor Ultragaz to replace the fossil fuels used in its industrial complex with a plant-based fuel.

The fuel, known as BioLPG, is made from soybean oil.

"This fuel stands out for its ability to provide energy efficiently, being able to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80%, when compared to other [sic] fossil fuels such as coal, contributing to energy transition and decarbonization solutions," CBMM said in a statement.

In 2023, 50% of CBMM's direct emissions – scope 1 – came from the burning of gaseous fossil fuels. After mapping the main sources of emissions, the company has sought more sustainable alternatives available on the market for adoption in its industrial processes.

“We hope to complete the process of neutralizing our current scope 1 and 2 emissions by the year 2040, given the importance and urgency of the climate agenda and energy transition, as well as the continuity of efforts to produce Niobium technologies, which contribute positively to the decarbonization of our customers’ value chains," Tiago Ramos Ribeiro, process and product development manager at CBMM, said in the statement.

Mining and metals companies in Brazil have invested heavily in solutions to reduce emissions.