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In the steel industry, we have invested in proprietary technologies and partnerships to transition blast furnaces to production methods with lower CO2 emissions. Vale has also developed a patented iron ore briquettes that enables our customers to achieve emissions reductions as high as 10%.
In base metals, over 93% of the electricity used in our production process comes from renewable sources, and all our nickel, copper, and cobalt products are assured by third-parties. We have signed long-term off-take agreements with leading automakers, cementing Vale's position as a leading supplier to the electric vehicle industry with an offering of high-quality products boasting a minimal environmental footprint.
Learn more about some of the innovative initiatives in our steel and base metals portfolios to support sustainable development.
Innovative iron ore for steelmaking
Steel demand will grow steadily over the years based on emerging regions and current megatrends. Decarbonization will create market segmentation with increased appetite for high-quality products that can deliver lower CO2 emissions. We remain committed to improving our portfolio to provide solutions to our customers.
Our strategy aims to accelerate the implementation of breakthrough iron solutions to meet steelmakers’ stringent demands. Our goal is to increase the production of agglomerated products — briquettes and pellets — securing the supply of high-grade products to the market. Long term (beyond 2030), Vale anticipates reaching a production volume of approximately 100 million metric tons of agglomerates.
Vale’s iron ore briquettes are a part of our iron solutions portfolio, as a result of a breakthrough technology developed in-house over 18 years of research and patented by us. They can provide a reduction of up to 10% of greenhouse gases emissions in the steel industry, while the low temperature (approximately 250°C) required for their production process allows for up to 80% less CO2 emissions when compared to traditional agglomeration routes (approximately 1300°C).
Our green briquettes have proven their performance through numerous industrial trials conducted since 2019 with various customers, delivering excellent results. This solution also aligns with circular-economy principles, as the binder can be produced using sand from our mining tailings as a raw material.
Our first briquette plant will start operation toward year-end 2023 at our Tubarão site (ES). In 2024, we will commission our second plant, with the two plans having a combined capacity of 6 million metric tons of briquettes per year.
Base metals for tomorrow’s industries
Nickel and copper are two essential base metals that are required for many of the enabling technologies for the transition to a low-carbon economy. High-performance batteries, for example, contain an increasing amount of nickel, while wind turbines and solar panels require substantial quantities of copper.
Vale anticipates that global demand for nickel will increase by 44% by 2030 compared to demand in 2022, reaching 6.2 million metric tons. Our nickel production volume is projected to surpass 300,000 metric tons, with growth largely expected in Indonesia and Canada. Copper demand, in turn, is forecast to rise by about 20% in the same period, reaching 37 million metric tons. Our production output is expected to increase from 285,000 metric tons in 2022 to 900,000 metric tons in the next decade.
High-purity nickel
The carbon footprint of Class 1 (high-purity) nickel produced by Vale’s Long Harbor facility in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is 6.2 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per metric ton produced. This figure is equivalent to half the average reported by the Nickel Institute for this category, and has been independently assured by Intertek.
In operation since 2014, the Long Harbor refinery produces nickel using hydrometallurgy rather than pyrometallurgy – meaning no smelters and no smokestacks. It delivers lower greenhouse gases and costs, and higher recoveries of valuable by products such as cobalt.
The nickel melt rounds from our Long Harbor plant are well-suited for demanding melting applications. The main characteristics of this product include low carbon intensity, high purity, and consistent composition, allowing for its addition at any stage of the alloy-making process.
Through our decarbonization program, we aim to position Vale as the partner of choice in the electrification of the automotive sector by delivering high-quality products with a minimal environmental impact.
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