Aperam BioEnergia is a brazilian player of the forest and renewable energy sector, that runs a ~420.000 ton/year charcoal operation with emissions control in the northeast region of Minas Gerais - Brazil, and holds ~126.000 ha of planted (FSC Certified) and native forest with important biodiversity and economical impact on local communities.
Aperam BioEnergia business plan for the future brings Biochar as an important solution to be scaled, not only to promote carbon sequestration but also forest productivity improvement due to better soil properties, production process efficiency increase and local social and economic development. The energy that was previously generated by burning the char material is not at risk of being substituted by fossil fuel sources because of the ample availability of cheaper renewable energy sources in Brazil. Currently, Aperam BioEnergia has a capacity for around 30kton/year of biochar.
Soil amendment in forests crops.
Soil amendment that improves important soil properties such as organic material, fertility, forest productivity increase, soil cohesion, among others.
The addition of biochar helps to increase the retention of water in the soil for a longer period, reducing fast water evaporation from the soil and allowing this way a controlled replenishing of surrounding water courses.
Social development programs supported by Aperam BioEnergia, receive biochar to be used as soil amendment, an initiative that is bringing productivity increase in crops of local farmers, with a strong impact in social development.