The independent pig iron plants installed in Minas Gerais and also in the other states of Brazil utilize only charcoal in their pig iron production process, through a technology developed in the country.
Initially, the wood utilized to produce charcoal came from native forests that were suppressed to open new frontiers for agriculture and cattle raising.
After the approval of the 2nd edition of the Forest Code in 1965, (the first was in 1934) that defined a new policy for wood utilization for energy purposes, in relation to the environment and the transition to the use only of wood from planted forests. This policy was confirmed by the 3rd version of the Forest Code approved in 2012 and the Forest Law of Minas Gerais State, published in 2013.
In order to achieve their self-sufficiency, many companies invested in afforestation projects, others partially and others searching for their supply through promoting plantings in partnership with farmers who might be interested; many companies were created to have their professional performance only in forestry, i.e., the entrepreneurs perceived a business opportunity.
Forest projects in Minas Gerais – as a rule – were established in needy regions and because of that they play an important role of social development as generate jobs and income for the local population. The improvement in social conditions is, many times, demonstrated by the increase of HDI after the establishment of the forest projects.
Taxonomy
The forest species adopted belong to the botanical genera of Eucalyptus and Corymbia and are among the, roughly, 700 that have already been described. Characteristics of the species: the trees grow fast and may reach 30 meters in height in 7 years (regular cycle), with high productivity and present an average volume of as much as 35 m³ per hectare per year.
Multiple Uses of eucalypt wood
As it has been said, the main use of eucalypt wood in Minas Gerais is for charcoal manufacturing. This charcoal is consumed by the pig iron industry, steel mills and ferroalloy producers.
However, eucalypt wood may have other industrial uses such as: pulp and paper production, ceramic products, calcination, plywood, particle board, furniture wood, fuelwood for energy generation (thermoelectric) or heat generations (boilers) -biomass- house building, floors, fence and electricity poles, among others.
From the eucalypt leaves an essential oil is extracted and used in cleaning products, perfumes and medicines.
In Minas Gerais, fuelwood and charcoal are important components in the energy matrix of the state, surpassed only by petrol.