Alcoa Brazil’s manufacturing strengths were on the agenda when representatives from Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the Brazilian Association of Large Energy Consumers (Abrace) visited the company.
The delegation came to the Poços de Caldas facilities to learn about Alcoa’s advances in sustainability, which contribute to the company’s ambition to achieve net zero GHG emissions across its global operations by 2050 for direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) emissions.
Sarah Pimenta, Environment and Licensing Manager at Alcoa Poços de Caldas, said: “In the last three years Alcoa has invested R$1.6 billion (US$262.2 million) in projects that promote the transformation of its production processes, from bauxite extraction to refining and reduction, to reduce our carbon footprint.”
Alcoa Poços de Caldas features a complete mine-to-metal process, from mining the bauxite to refining the alumina and then smelting into primary aluminium.
“The unit has already reduced greenhouse gases by 30% compared to 2019 levels by investing in technology and sustainable practices, such as recycling aluminum in production processes, operating electric boilers in the refinery and implementing the filter press, which allows bauxite residue to be disposed of using less water,” Pimenta said.
Leandro de Oliveira Albuquerque, Director of Programs at the National Secretariat for Energy Transition and Planning, said Alcoa’s projects focused on decarbonisation and waste treatment are examples to be shared across the sector.
“They are very much in line with what we are looking for, which are experiences that reduce carbon emissions and guarantee greater sustainability in operations,” he said.
“We intend to use them as an example in drawing up the plans we are working on, such as the Climate Plan and New Industry Brazil, among others, developed in partnership with the Ministries of the Environment and Industry.”
Albuquerque was accompanied on the visit by José Luiz Ubaldino de Lima, Director of the Department of Geology and Mineral Production; and Sérgio Soares Ayrimoraes, General Coordinator of Integrated Studies.
Abrace also sent several representatives. Abrace President Paulo Pedrosa stressed the importance of the visit for practical knowledge about the industries investing in the energy transition.
“Experiencing the industry strengthens our line of argument and dialogue on our various fronts,” he said.
“We need to analyze the industries that consume energy and make them competitive in order to expand the country's production to supply the domestic market and export green products to the world.”
The group was welcomed by Pimenta and Maria Cristina Gonçalves, Government Relations and Communications Manager; Juliana Noronha, Institutional Relations Manager; Rafael Garrio, Commercial Energy Manager; Daniel Soares, Regional Environment Manager; and Jéssica Milani, Energy Manager.