BBA helps decarbonize ArcelorMittal’s Port-Cartier plant

ArcelorMittal decided to replace some of the fuel oil it uses in its facilities with pyrolytic oil, a biofuel made from logging waste. AE Côte-Nord Canada Bioenergy, whose facilities are located very near those of ArcelorMittal, will be producing this biofuel using Arbec sawmill by-products.

“BBA is proud to be involved in implementing this innovative technology that will help decarbonize the heavy industry sector,” says Stéphane Charest, Project Manager within BBA’s Advanced Fuels and Chemicals team.

BBA participated in the feasibility study and will carry out the detailed engineering as well as support ArcelorMittal in converting its fuel oil systems to pyrolytic oil. This oil had already started being used to fuel some of the pellet furnaces after ArcelorMittal’s initial plant modifications in 2022. BBA’s engineering supported these modifications as part of the planned project execution phases. The mining company hopes to cut 30% of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. The project will also help create jobs in the Port-Cartier region and allow Arbec to increase its production capacity.

BBA is a Canadian pioneer when it comes to using pyrolytic oil in industrial processes and has developed sought-after expertise in certifying furnaces and burners to CSA standards. The experts in the consulting engineering firm’s Advanced Fuels and Chemicals team have been involved in pilot tests and system conversions and, as such, have also acquired valuable knowledge. “One of the project challenges at ArcelorMittal was to ensure the quality and consistency of the iron oxide pellet firing process in order to maintain and even increase the plant’s output,” explains Stéphane Charest.

The solution designed for ArcelorMittal aligns with BBA’s desire to help industry lower its carbon footprint and reflects the environment, society and governance (ESG) criteria the consulting engineering firm has adopted. The project won an award in the Natural Resources category at Écotech Québec’s 2022 Eurêka! d’un Québec vert et prospère.

Subsidiaries of ArcelorMittal, a leading steel company and one of the five largest iron ore producers in the world, ArcelorMittal Infrastructure Canada G.P. (AMIC) and ArcelorMittal Mining Canada G.P. (“AMMC”) are two complementary entities operating in Québec’s Côte-Nord. AMIC transports concentrate between Mont-Wright and Port-Cartier and operates a seaport in Port-Cartier to transport and ship AMMC’s products to four continents. AMMC produces iron ore concentrate and iron oxide pellets for the steel market. Both entities employ over 2,500 people, making ArcelorMittal the largest employer on Québec’s Côte-Nord.