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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TECHNOLOGIES
Eco-efficient management guarantees air, water, soil and acoustic protection
Air
 The Gerdau Group units protect the air using dust filtration systems, technology that efficiently filters the solid particles and gases generated during the steel production process, preventing their emission into the atmosphere.
Air treatment capacity has increased 57% since 1998.
The Gerdau Group's industrial water recirculation rate is among the best in the global steel industry.
We installed new dust removal systems in the Gerdau Barão de Cocais (state of Minas Gerais) and Gerdau Açonorte (state of Pernambuco) melt shops and in the number 3 blast furnace at Gerdau Divinópolis (state of Minas Gerais). Also in the state of Minas Gerais, the Ouro Branco mill concluded the upgrade of its secondary dust removal system for the sintering unit, where the agglomeration of iron ore fines takes place.
With the installation of this new equipment, the Gerdau Group's total air treatment capacity increased by approximately 18% during the year, from 8.5 million m³ of air per hour to 10 million m³.
Water
The Gerdau Group's industrial water recirculation rate is among the best in the global steel industry. In line with the principle of eco-efficiency, the units develop alternatives that reduce water consumption and waste generation by optimizing industrial processes.
The steel mills have systems that treat and recirculate 95.3% of the total water intake. Of the 4.7% that remains, a small portion is returned to the rivers after being treated while the remainder evaporates during the steel production process.
In 2003, Gerdau Cosigua (state of Rio de Janeiro) and Gerdau Usiba (state of Bahia) began installation of new filters in their water treatment stations.
The Group also installed a new water recirculation system at Gerdau Divinópolis (state of Minas Gerais).
Soil
Gerdau protects the soil by managing all of its industrial by-products. Our management system is based on the processes of reduction, recycling, re-use and stockpiling. This work is performed using the best practices in the area and is based on guidelines established by environmental entities.
Gerdau São José dos Campos (state of São Paulo) concluded the treatment of a 250 m² area that was used by the former owner as a basin for storing liquid wastes. The site, equal to 0.5% of the unit's total area, was deactivated by the Gerdau Group when it purchased the steel mill nine years ago. It is now is free of contamination and is one of the unit's green areas.
In the state of Paraná, Gerdau Guaíra completed construction of a new controlled landfill for by-products from the dust removal systems. The landfill was designed within the relevant technical standards.
Acoustics
Gerdau Divinópolis (state of Minas Gerais) installed new acoustic isolation equipment that reduces noise from the blast furnace dust removal system by 19%. In São Paulo, the welded wire mesh producer Gerdau Telas Soldadas concluded an acoustic project for the welding equipment and cold rolling mills, reducing noise by 8%.
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