The ABM Week is hosting a crucial debate on decarbonization in the Brazilian steel industry. The event focuses on the challenges and opportunities for integrating renewable energy sources, aiming for a more sustainable future and the production of low-carbon steel.
The global steel industry faces a growing imperative: decarbonization. With 82% of companies maintaining or accelerating their climate commitments, according to PwC data, the sector seeks to balance increased low-carbon steel production with economic viability.
This complex scenario, full of technical, economic, and regulatory barriers, will be the focus of in-depth discussions during the 10th ABM Week, Latin America’s largest technical-scientific and business gathering in the sector.
Organized by the Brazilian Association of Metallurgy, Materials, and Mining (ABM), the week-long event offers an essential platform to address energy transition and clean energy solutions.
Two crucial moments are scheduled: a Special Session of the 45th Energy and Energy Transition Seminar and a roundtable dedicated to the challenges and opportunities of the electricity sector in the journey toward decarbonizing the Brazilian steel industry.
Pathways to Decarbonization in the Steel Industry
The pursuit of a sustainable steel industry is a global priority. According to Éder de Araújo, Gerdau‘s technical energy manager and coordinator of ABM‘s Technical Committee on Energy and Utilities, the topic’s relevance is unquestionable:
“The steel industry is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, responsible for up to 9% of global CO2 emissions from human activities and over 10% of global CO2 from fossil fuel combustion, according to Worldsteel data. In this sense, decarbonization, coupled with new global market demands and increasing regulations, has become a critical factor for the sector’s competitiveness, in addition to the environmental agenda.”
This perspective highlights the urgency of innovative solutions and policies that drive the sector’s sustainability and competitiveness.
The Special Session and Energy Management
ABM Week kicks off its energy program with the Special Session of the 45th Energy and Energy Transition Seminar, on September 9.
Following the opening by Éder de Araújo and Horacidio Leal Barbosa, ABM‘s executive president, the highlight will be the presentation “Evolution of Energy and Utility KPIs,” with André Frias, Energy & Utilities Planning Specialist at Ternium.
The activity promises a historical overview of energy management, revealing its evolution and development.
Éder Quental de Araújo emphasizes the strategic importance of this discussion:
“Energy and utility indicators function as a technical compass for the industry. They allow for monitoring process efficiency, identifying improvement opportunities, and supporting decisions that directly impact both operations and competitiveness.”
The session will also pay tribute to Ronaldo Mendonça, Usiminas‘ Senior Manager of Industrial Fluids Operation, for his contributions to the sector, and will include a message from the host company, Tecnosulfur, represented by Marina Muradas.
Roundtable: Challenges of the Electricity Sector
The subsequent roundtable, titled “The challenges and opportunities of the electricity sector for decarbonizing the Brazilian steel industry,” will explore how energy infrastructure can be a driver for decarbonization.
The objective is to discuss international experiences, propose public policies, and identify the technical, economic, infrastructure, and regulatory barriers to low-carbon steel production in Brazil.
Participants can expect a practical and realistic approach, according to Éder de Araújo:
“Participants can expect practical cases, concrete data, and a realistic view of the technological routes shaping the sector, focusing not just on the conceptual plan but addressing what is already working and where the infrastructure and regulatory bottlenecks are in Brazil.”
The debate will feature the expertise of Amaro Pereira (COPPE/UFRJ), Arnaldo dos Santos Junior (EPE), Fernando Machado Silva (ONS), and Paulo Pedrosa (ABRACE Energia), in addition to Éder de Araújo.
Brazil’s Decarbonization Potential
The roundtable experts will analyze the innovation and growth opportunities for decarbonization in Brazil, focusing on electrical resources.
The country possesses a global competitive advantage due to its predominantly renewable electricity matrix and significant potential for bioenergy, a key differentiator in the race for clean energy solutions.
Despite the infrastructure and cost challenges of the electricity sector, Éder de Araújo envisions a promising future for the Brazilian steel industry:
“The steel sector is energy-intensive and faces a significant infrastructure challenge to ensure grid stability and manage production, transmission, and distribution costs.”
He adds:
“With the integration of energy and utility management into this natural vocation, the Brazilian industry can consolidate itself as a world leader in offering low-carbon products.”
Conclusion
The ABM Week establishes itself as an indispensable forum for advancing the decarbonization agenda in steelmaking.
By bringing together specialists and promoting debates focused on integrating renewable energy sources and optimizing the electricity sector, the event not only contextualizes the challenges but also points toward practical and innovative paths.
Brazil’s capacity to lead low-carbon steel production, leveraging its renewable electricity matrix, represents a unique strategic opportunity for the country to position itself as a global benchmark in sustainable industry.
