Aperam BioEnergia

Aperam BioEnergia, based in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is dedicated to sustainable forest management and charcoal production. Their forest management is based on best practices and is recognised by the Forest Stewardship Council’s certification, whose standards and principles represent ecological protection (flora and fauna, but also water reserves) with social benefits and economic feasibility. Their carbonisation process is realised without any extractive fuels and with extraordinary energy efficiency, reusing the heat and gases generated by incineration to dry the wood. As a result of this efficient and responsible process, all the charcoal produced is sent to the furnaces of the Aperam Brazilian steel plant, which is located in the same state, in the city of Timóteo, some 350 kilometres away. The charcoal produced at BioEnergia is used in their steel-making process as a natural and renewable substitute for fossil fuels (coke).