Could this charcoal-like substance hold the key to Algoma Steel's future?
Sault Ste. Marie is currently exploring a partnership with local forestry companies to produce biochar, which could be utilized in Algoma Steel's innovative electric arc furnaces.
Biochar is essentially a type of charcoal created from plant materials that have been processed in a low-oxygen environment.
"Incorporating biochar represents a significant opportunity for Algoma Steel to enhance the decarbonization of its new electric furnace operations," stated Corey Gardi, councilor for Ward 5, during a city council meeting on Monday.
"As I see it, much of the groundwork has already been laid out," Gardi expressed confidently.
"From what I've come across, the province seems eager to fund a large-scale implementation in a city that has both a steel mill and forestry byproducts available."
In the realm of electric arc steelmaking, biochar can offer several advantages:
- It functions as a foaming agent to protect the arc.
- It can substitute coke or anthracite as a source of carbon.
- It enhances the dynamics of slag.
- It increases the yield of steel.
- It helps in reducing CO₂ emissions.
Gardi highlighted that Ontario's 2025 Interim Report on the Forest Biomass Action Plan specifically recommends utilizing biochar in the steel production process as a vital strategy for lowering carbon emissions.
"It’s also worth noting that Algoma Steel is a participant in the Canadian Iron & Steel Energy Research Association, which is currently at the forefront of researching biocarbon applications for electric arc furnace slag foaming," Gardi added.
"Although Algoma Steel hasn’t constructed its own biochar facilities yet, they stand to be the main anchor customer in our community for potential biochar manufacturers in the area, like CHAR Technologies, which has notably expanded its operations in Ontario, including locations such as Espanola and Thorold."
Gardi shared that there are "tens of millions of dollars" accessible for projects of this nature, including funding from the federal Indigenous Forestry Initiative.
"The more initiatives we can launch to stimulate our economy, the better it will be for us all," the councillor remarked.
"As we move into 2026, the weight of our city’s transitional phase is palpable.
We’re all acutely aware of the early shutdown of the blast furnaces at Algoma Steel and the challenging layoffs that have directly affected around 1,000 of our friends and neighbors.
While these transitions are certainly tough, they are not the conclusion of our narrative. For a city steeped in rich industrial history, this could mark the beginning of our next chapter."
On Monday, the city council unanimously supported a resolution proposed by Gardi and Ward 1's Sonny Spina to task city staff with investigating biochar as part of various 'green economy' initiatives.
These initiatives include the development of a district energy network designed to capture industrial waste heat from local manufacturing processes, along with prioritizing "green logistics" at the Sault's planned port expansion to facilitate the movement of bio-based products and essential minerals required by the electric vehicle supply chain.
