Hydro Alunorte signs an agreement with UFPA for sustainable research on the use of bauxite residue

Hydro announced that Alunorte and the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) signed an agreement in June for research on the feasibility of producing low-carbon cement from bauxite residue.

The project is part of an agreement between Hydro and UFPA signed in 2019 to develop cement from a mixture of bauxite residue and other raw materials abundant in the Pará region in Brazil.

“The company seeks to use part of this residue to generate new products by 2030, using approximately 500,000 tonnes of bauxite residue per year.Through this project, Hydro aims to develop sustainable technological solutions for local cement producers in order to reduce not only their production costs, but also their environmental impact, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving natural resources,” Hydro said.

The project is estimated to last 18 months and includes five researchers from the UFPA Construction Technology Laboratory and five other professionals from the Technology Department, which includes the Hydro Research & Development area.

Alunorte's Industrial Director, Michel Lisboa, said: “Hydro seeks to be a benchmark in sustainability in the aluminium industry. To do so, partnership in search of innovation with the academy is fundamental. The research is an opportunity to promote global and local advances in our environmental management, with a reduction in carbon emissions and the reuse of bauxite residue - a long-term goal for the entire aluminium industry.”

Hydro's senior manager of Bauxite & Alumina Research & Development, Erik Araújo, explained: "The signing of the first agreement symbolizes the realization of a partnership, which is the result of the efforts of both sides. The project opens up a range of initiatives, in addition to bringing future benefits and associating the company with the most important academic institution in Pará. This residue will become raw material for the cement industry and the processing stage has the potential to generate jobs."