In a period of climate change and increased emission restrictions, it is important to focus on developing nations headed towards a low-carbon economy. The purpose of this article is to analyze the potential environmental contribution that a change in the energy matrix of the pig iron and steel sector may provide. For the measurement of CO2 emissions for each major fuel used in this sector, the Top-Down method proposed by the IPCC was used. Moreover, according to the data of energy consumption of the sector, a measurement of CO2 emissions was made supposing a change of the energy matrix for purposes of comparing the emission levels. The results of this study indicate that coking coal fuel accounts for 53.7% of the total carbon dioxide emitted by this sector. Furthermore, if it were possible to use only one fuel in the pig iron and steel sector to supply its energy demand, CO2 emissions would be lower for sources of gaseous and liquid fuels, tar, and other oil secondary sources. Although the study indicated that charcoal is the second largest emitter of CO2 in this sector, it can contribute to reducing global warming, as long as this energy comes from reforestation forests for this industrial activity.
Pig Iron and Steel Sector; Top Down method; Renewable Energy; GHG
