Gerdau to use biofuel in steel production

The patented product, named BeVant, is claimed by the company to offer both a low-carbon footprint and act as a replacement for fossil diesel without the need for process modifications. In a life cycle analysis (LCA), which measures emissions from production to engine combustion, BeVant emits 50% less carbon equivalent than diesel. As stated by Camilo Adas, Be8’s energy transition director, its carbon footprint is 90% lower if only combustion emissions are considered.

In BeVant’s first year of commercial operation, Be8 anticipates selling its entire annual production capacity of 50 million litres from the Passo Fundo (Rio Grande do Sul) plant.

“We aim to secure sales for the full capacity of this unit and establish future contracts,” Erasmo Carlos Batistella, Be8’s owner and president, said. Once current capacity is fully utilized, the company plans to invest in industrial expansion and is exploring opportunities with both domestic and international clients.

Be8 secured a spot in the official supply agreements at Casa Brasil, a space hosted by Brazilian companies alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos. Gerdau, one of the event’s sponsors, plans to conduct initial tests of BeVant at its mining unit in Minas Gerais.

“We expect the best possible results, but our immediate focus is on advancing this partnership,” said Pedro Torres, Gerdau’s global director of communication, brand, and institutional relations.

Be8 has also secured agreements with Ambipar, the Randon Technology Center (CTR), Congonhas Airport, and the Abreu Group, which manages São Paulo’s largest bus fleet. These deals have already placed 2-3 million litres of the renewable fuel into the market.

Source: Valor International