Rodrigo Valladares

Abstract:

Viena Siderurgica, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary of operations in November 2018, is the largest pig iron producer and exporter in Brazil, with an achieved production of 401,917 MT in 2017 and an expected production over 500,000 MT in 2018. The key factor of the company's success is the continuous investment in three sustainable directions: (a) biomass production, forestation, and reforestation, and its equal consumption of the forest for charcoal production in order to achieve a zero CO₂ balance ; (b) sinter plants that use the fines of iron ores and coke in order to minimise waste and increase productivity; and (c) power plants in order to effectively use the heat produced in the blast furnaces to produce electric energy that inputs in the public electric grid. The story of the company proves that investing in sustainability is also a key to survival and market success.