Eramet and carbon recycling specialist Lanzatech announced the launch of a brand new project to decarbonize our manganese alloy production activities.
Phase 1 of the project will focus on carbon capture, storage and utilization (CCU). Specifically, the gases emitted by the pyrometallurgical furnaces at Eramet Norway’s plant in the Herøya industrial park in Porsgrunn, Norway, will be recovered and transmitted to a brand-new plant developed by Lanzatech. In this plant, the technology developed by Lanzatech, based on a biological fermentation process, will transform up to 30% of the carbon dioxide contained in these gases into ethanol, an alcohol used in various industries such as fashion, personal care products, packaging and fuel.
The final investment decision for phase 1 is expected in early 2025, and the plant would start operations in 2028. The plant’s maximum production capacity is estimated at 24,000 tonnes of ethanol per year.
A second phase of the project is currently being studied, involving Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), to process the remaining 70% of CO2 that could not be converted into ethanol. After liquefaction, this residual CO2 would then be transported and stored by Eramet.
This initiative is in line with the decarbonization objective set by Eramet in its “Act for Positive Mining” CSR roadmap: to reduce its CO2 emissions by 40% on scopes 1 and 2 by 2035. The CCUS represents a major decarbonization lever for our metallurgical plants, our main source of CO2 emissions.
‘Eramet is pleased to be collaborating with LanzaTech on this first-of-its-kind decarbonization project of our manganese smelters. Firstly, to ensure optimal circular value creation in the use our energy-rich furnace gas. Secondly, this creates an attractive option to further liquefy and ultimately sequester the remaining CO2 streams. On a combined basis these CCU & CCS projects at Porsgrunn could bring a reduction of the company’s CO2 emissions by ~200 kt of Eramet’s Scope 1 & 2 emissions. This project brings Eramet closer towards its target of producing and offering a Zero CO2 manganese alloy product for the benefit of decarbonizing the value chain of steel.’
Geoff Streeton,
Director of Strategy, Innovation and Business Development of the Eramet group
