Our businesses are highly integrated, and we serve the entire steel production chain, from iron ore extraction to the production and sale of coils, metal sheets for packaging and steel profiles. Moreover, we manage and create value for co-products, fostering cash generation and the circular economy development allowing operational ecoefficiency, business integration and promoting sustainable development. Thus, our production model is based on the circular economy model because we use inputs from our own operations to produce consumption goods.
We rely on the SGA (Environmental Management System) certified as per ISO 14.001:2015 in most of our sites (see more on page 60 from the PDF) and even those sites that have not yet been certified count on SGA and are going through a corporate schedule to advance in the certification process, according to ISO guidelines.
We have protection areas covering over 68 thousand hectares, such as legal reserves, PPA (Permanent Preservation Areas) and RPPN (Private Natural Heritage Reserves, in Portuguese), throughout several Brazilian states. Some of our operating units are located close to regions with protected areas, such as legal reserves, permanent preservation areas and private natural heritage reserves. In compliance with local legislation in force, we strictly monitor possible impacts from our operations in such areas through fauna and flora protection and monitoring programs.
Throughout the years, we have improved biodiversity monitoring in areas close to our operating units. Following the best international practices and recommendations on the management and monitoring of areas with high biodiversity value, we began to compile information related to CSN Mineração’a areas, whose units are located in regions rich in biodiversity where the prevailing biome is the Atlantic Forest as well as in transition areas to the Cerrado. Through this pilot project, we will enhance our monitoring processes and expand it to all CSN Group’s units and plants located within or close to areas with high level of biodiversity.
Nordeste | Sudeste | Sul | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Área de Preservação Permanente – APP | 55,2% | 4,6% | 40,1% | 4,2% |
Área de Reserva Legal – ARL | 88,3% | 0,6% | 11,1% | 26,4% |
Área de Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural – RPPN | 0,0% | 0,0% | 100,0% | 0,8% |
Note: 1.The Area of Declared Wildlife Interest – AIE includes the Hemlock Forests ARIE (Area of Important Environmental Interest), located in Volta Redonda (RJ).
Moreover, CSN Group assesses all biodiversity-related matters during the entire Life Cycle of its ventures, considering:
We are committed to fostering environmental protection programs, including the promotion of a proactive behavior of the entire staff, always in line with environmental laws as well as national and international rules. We maintain the same stance towards the management of environmental liabilities from old operations and the remediation of old coal mines in Santa Catarina, shutdown in 1990, as well as the remediation of old industrial landfills in Volta Redonda (RJ). These are environmental liabilities prior to the privatization and the sites operated before the enactment of the main environmental laws and rules, mainly Law 6.938/1981 (National Environment Policy).
Since 2010, we take stock of our greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol guidelines, in order to subsidize carbon management, risk mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The inventory is currently submitted to the Brazil GHG Protocol Program, having received the Gold Seal for 6 years in a row (2014-2019). 2019 inventory has been submitted to the Brazil GHC Protocol Program platform. Furthermore, we report to the CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project), completing the Climate Change and Water questionnaires, and, as of 2020, we publicly disclose that information. We also set the goal to reduce carbono intensity per ton of crude steel (tCO2/ton) by 10% until 2030, versus 2019 figures.
Note: 1. Considers fugitive emissions (0.029%), solid waste and liquid effluents (0.037%) and mobile combustion (1.867%).
As large energy industry consumers, since 1999 we invest in power generation projects. We currently rely on a thermal power plant, with installed capacity of 235.2 MW at Presidente Vargas Steelworks, fueled by steelmaking gases, and we hold a 29.5% shareholding interest in Itá Hydroelectric Power Plant (SC), representing 167 MW Avg. and 17.9% in Igarapava (MG), representing 23 MW Avg. In 2014, blast furnace 3’s top turbine began commercial operation, adding another 21 MW Avg. to our generation capacity. Bearing in mind the supply of our future expansions, we frequently prospect and analyze the feasibility of new generation assets aiming self-sufficiency and competitiveness.
Given our energy matrix, we have one of the smallest scope 2 emissions in the steelmaking industry (according to an assessment based on World Steel Association’s data) because 75% of CSN’s power consumption comes from self-produced renewable sources.
*Scope 2 emissions are related to indirect emission sources, because they use electricity (or thermal power) produced by another company.
Notes: 1. According to World Steel Association (WSA) methodology – Scope 1+2+3
2. According to Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) methodology - Scope 1+2
3. According to Brazil GHG Protocol and UNCTAD methodology – Scope 1 - UNCTAD B.3.1
4. According to Brazil GHG Protocol and UNCTAD methodology – Scope 2 - UNCTAD B.3.2
We are committed to improve our environmental indicators by investing continuously in new technology and process optimization. Thus, our ambitions are to:
Our largest air emissions for the Steelmaking, Mining and Cement segments mainly are particulate material (MP), sulfur oxides (Sox) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Accordingly, the Company manages air emissions, which can be mobile or fixes, therefore we rely on strict emission controls and monitoring. We also have air quality monitoring stations surrounding our operational units, especially in Volta Redonda – RJ, where the Presidente Vargas Steelworks is located:
We present UPV’s and CSN Arcos – Cement’s emission information given these are the plants with most representative emissions. Furthermore, part of our other units does not have fixed emission sources.
We set the goal to reduce particulate emission per ton of crude steel by 40% until 2030, compared to 2019.
Note: 1. *On page 72 of our Integrated Report, we provide detailed information on emissions per ton of produced crude steel and clinker. Amounts presented show emissions from steelmaking and cement production processes, at UPV and at CSN Arcos – Cement.
2. Variation is due to a change in monitoring methodology. The upcoming samples will be based on monitoring standardization.
2. A variação se deu em consequência da alteração de metodologia no monitoramento. As próximas amostragens terão como premissa a padronização no monitoramento.
In the city of Volta Redonda (RJ), we have three automatic and five semi-automatic air quality monitoring stations, in addition to weather stations, in order to provide transparency to our environmental controls and air quality indicators. Air emission monitoring at UPV, as well as at the cement plants in Volta Redonda (RJ) and Arcos (MG) is performed through isokinetic (gas flow on the equipment entrance had the same speed as gas flow we intend to analyze) and continuous measurement, via automatic particulates and gas meters.
We continuously monitor our air emissions to ensure air quality is within the standards determined by law, without putting the population’s health at risk. In Volta Redonda, we monitor both air emissions and quality, and results are transparently, automated and real-time controlled and reported to the state environmental agency, that consolidates the information and discloses the IQAr (Air Quality Index) to the population.
Water is fundamental for our mining, steelmaking and power generation operations, while the other sectors have less water-intensive processes. Water consumption is controlled through water balances at all units and water footprint – learn more on page 143 from the PDF– at UPV (Presidente Vargas Steelworks), both conducted in compliance with ISO 14.046. UPV is Brazil’s only steelmaker to put together its water footprint and represents CSN’s highest water consumption; the unit became a benchmark for a 92.9% water recycling and reusing rate in 2019, while this rate was 72.2% for CSN Mineração in the same period. However, in CSN Mineração’s Central Plant, this percentage reaches 94%.
Moreover, based on the Water Risk Filter WWF and Aqueduct WRI risk assessment methodologies, as of 2020 we will begin to assess our business exposure to hydro risks, both in terms of process and basins close to our operations.
Significant increase in efficiency of water consumption per iron ore produced, especially due to tailing filtering plant implementation, which allowed for a 25% reduction.
92,9% water reuse and recycling at UPV in 2019
72,2% water reuse and recycling at CSN Mineração in 2019
-14% in water withdrawal per ton of cement produced by CSN Arcos Cement in 2019 vs. 2018
-25% in freshwater withdrawal amount per ton of iron ore produced by CSN Mineração in 2019 vs. 2018
-6,6% total water consumption in the entire CSN Group, in 2019
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Águas superficiais | 89.009 | 80.732 | 96.059 |
Águas subterrâneas | 7.510 | 7.878 | 6.138 |
Abastecimento municipal de água | 374 | 446 | 516 |
Total | 96.893 | 89.057 | 102.713 |
Note: For all withdrawal sources, total dissolved solids concentration was less than 1,000 mg/l of water.
Note: 1. 1100% of water is discharged into surface water. Water goes through physical-chemical, chemical and biological treatments in addition to pH neutralization process before being discharged into the waterbody.
2. There have been no changes to water stored for consumption.
Since 2013, we have organized the Fórum Sul Fluminense Sobre Águas (Water Forum for the Southern Region of Rio de Janeiro) to discuss the matter with other players in the Paraíba do Sul river basin. The event celebrates world water day and is attended by civil society representatives, environmental agencies, the Academy, basin committee members and other companies in Rio de Janeiro. Also, since 2013, we have been members of the CEIVAP’s (Paraíba do Sul River Integration Committee) Technical Board and of the CBH/MPS (Medium Paraíba Basin Committee) where UPV is located, representing the users of Rio de Janeiro’s waters. Our membership enables us to have open dialogs with other civil society representatives and public operatives in order to support the water management of Paraíba do Sul and its tributaries.
In Minas Gerais, we are members of the Paraopeba River Basin Committee and its Technical Board for Procedure Integration and Granting and Regulating Actions (CTIOAR in Portuguese) fostering an open dialog with civil society members and public authorities, to provide water management support for Paraopeba river and its tributaries
All units rely on an automated waste inventory, logging the waste weight in the SAP system and conveying the information via SGR (Waste Management System). Information are consolidated monthly in the waste inventory, which is forwarded to the proper environmental authorities every year. Additionally, the Recycling Department, under the Supplies Office, is responsible for receiving, storing and separating discharged materials to then be properly disposed of, with the purpose of maximum recycling efficiency.
Internal use in the production process, such as steel scrap or coper from discharged electrical cables.
Sale of materials that gain added value after proper separation and processing, such as cardboard, plastic and shredded paper. There are also other separated recyclable materials sold in bulks such as zinc dross, stainless steel scraps, electric material scraps, refracting material scraps, pallets and wood, among other.
Materials are sent to a licensed supplier for proper disposal. This includes class I waste, such as: contaminated waste in barrels, petroleum sludge, coke gas and contaminated ceramic fibers. We enter into destination contracts for said materials, which are sent to co-processing at the cement industry or to authorized landfills. Learn more about this Supplies Office initiative together with the Special Sales Office and the Environment Departments on page 168.
Note: The non-hazardous waste generation change in 2017, 2018 and 2019 is due to waste rock handling. At the mine, there are areas where ores are found to be more noble than others, and the depth where they are located may also vary. Therefore, rock waste handling may vary and is not directly related to production.
In this report we present steelmaking and mining waste generation because both sectors are responsible for more than 90% of the entire CSN Group’s waste generation; thus, we generate around 36.7 million tons of waste in steelmaking (UPV) and mining (CSN Mineração and Minérios Nacional) during 2019: 99.9% of which are non-hazardous waste. In the period, we reused 99.4% of hazardous waste and 7.5% of non-hazardous waste.
Even though our production volume has decreased, we have intensified waste recycling due to the recycling flow increase through the sale of stocked waste, such as mill scale and blast furnace dust. Furthermore, the progress of hazardous waste recycling shows that the market is developing, given that this waste allocation is possible through special sales, generating new income sources. In 2019, we entered into a partnership with a company specialized in service provision for the steelmaking sector, in order to optimize in-house recycling by absorbing part of blast furnace dust, steel mill dust and mill scale to produce briquette.
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Resíduos perigosos | 25.754 | 27.251 | 26.905 |
Reutilização | 14.779 | 15.400 | 11.982 |
Reciclagem | 6.972 | 8.067 | 10.780 |
Coprocessamento | 2.676 | 2.648 | 3.063 |
Rerrefino | 1.119 | 1.021 | 928 |
Aterro sanitário | 208 | 114 | 151 |
Resíduos não perigosos | 38.690.412 | 18.935.846 | 36.711.636 |
Reutilização | 2.900.314 | 2.772.947 | 2.145.791 |
Reciclagem
| 845.853 | 476.878 | 601.485 |
Aterro sanitário | 129.481 | 136.894 | 180.555 |
Outros (autoclavagem) | 3.739 | 4.179 | 2.757 |
Total de resíduos gerados (perigosos e não perigosos) | 38.716.166 | 18.963.097 | 36.738.541 |
Note: 1. In this report, we present steelmaking (UPV) and mining (CSN Mineração and Minérios Nacional) waste generation because those sectors represent more than 90% of the entire CSN Group’s waste generation. The increase in the amount of nonhazardous waste sent to landfills in 2019 versus 2018 is due to blast furnace 3’s refurbishment in the end of 2019, contributing to enlarge construction debris generation, which is the waste that is sent to landfills. Accordingly, the hazardous waste change is due to CSN Mineração’s operations; the higher the production and handling, the higher the maintenance and consequently, more hazardous waste generated.
The processing of steelmaking slag consists of magnetic separation of metals, which return to the steelmaking process. The challenge is to understand market solutions for the disposal and use of the non-metal portion, also known as steel aggregate. Currently, we focus on the following:
We continue to pursue new uses, which are still under evaluation, such as:
Part of the material is temporarily stored in a yard outside Presidente Vargas Steelworks, named Slag Processing Yard. Steel aggregated basically consists of calcium silicate, magnesium and aluminum, which are already present in natural aggregates. Furthermore, CSN Inova together with the steel mill, engineering, R&D and cement departments are seeking new partnerships with Brazilian and foreign organizations focusing on existing options and new solutions to find the most proper disposal of steelmaking aggregate.
We rely on a Corporate Department in charge of managing our interests in power companies, assessing consumption, finding opportunities and making energy consumption and purchase projections. Since 1999, we have invested in power generation projects in order to guarantee most of our annual consumption. The energy assets are Itá Hydroelectric Power Plant (SC), Igarapava Hydroelectric Power Plant (MG), Thermal Power Plant, which uses steelmaking gas as fuel, and TRT (Top-pressure Recovery Turbine), which operate together at UPV (Presidente Vargas Steelworks). TRT enables the use of kinetic energy present in blast furnace 3’s generated gases, a process which makes self-produced energy possible, contributing to reduce our environmental impacts, once this kinetic energy operates through the gas pressure. Self-produced energy share had a significant increase in total power consumption since 2018. While in 2017, the self-produced energy from Igarapava and Itá Hydroelectric Power Plants and TRT – which are 100% renewable sources – accounted for 59.5% of our power consumption: this rate increased to 81.1% and 75.5% in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Reach 100% of energy from renewable sources at CSN Mineração by 2021.
Considering the ratio between energy consumption and Statement of Added Value, our energy efficiency increased 38% on average in the 2-year period compared to 2017.
of power consumption in 2019
came 100% from self-produced renewable energy 100% renováveis
more efficient cement production than the Brazilian average:
86 kWh/t (CSN) x 108 kWh/t (Brazilian average)
on average, more efficient
in the 2-year period than in 2017
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Consumo total de combustíveis oriundos de fontes não renováveis¹ | 120.923.721 | 121.056.617 | 91.782.358 |
Biodiesel, carvão metalúrgico, carvão sub-betuminoso, coque de carvão, moinha, coque de petróleo, diesel, GLP, gás natural, gasolina, óleo combustível e óleo de lavagem | 120.923.721 | 121.056.617 | 91.782.358 |
Consumo total de combustíveis oriundos de fontes renováveis | 5 | 1 | 13 |
Etanol hidratado | 5 | 1 | 13 |
Eletricidade, aquecimento, refrigeração e vapor adquiridos para consumo | 4.014.245 | 1.429.257 | 1.856.154 |
Eletricidade, aquecimento, refrigeração e vapor autogerados | 5.911.205 | 6.145.030 | 5.744.306 |
Usina hidrelétrica de Igarapava | 550.549 | 577.317 | 591.577 |
Usina hidrelétrica de Itá | 4.965.269 | 5.272.398 | 5.114.810 |
Turbina de topo | 395.388 | 295.314,54 | 37.919 |
Consumo total de energia² | 130.849.175 | 128.630.905 | 99.382.831 |
Note: 1. “Total consumption of non-renewable fuel” have included thermal power. 2. Total power consumption was defined based on the sum of all renewable and non-renewable fuels, plus acquired and self-produced electric power, heating, cooling and steam.
2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|
GJ/t aço bruto¹ | 27,1 | 26,7 | 28,0 |
KWh/t de cimento² | 76,3 | 80,6 | 86,6 |
MJ/t clínquer³ | 3.579,0 | 3.502,0 | 3.585,0 |
GJ/R$ mil DVA – Escopo 1+2⁴ | 19,1 | 10,9 | 12,7 |
Notes:
1. Calculated according to the World Steel Association methodology – Scope 1
2. Calculated according to the Global Cement and Concrete Association methodology – Scope 2
3. Calculated according to the Global Cement and Concrete Association methodology – Scope 1
4. Calculated according to Combustech system’s thermal energy consumption methodology.
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