Sault Ste. Marie is looking into partnering with local forestry firms to make biochar for use in Algoma Steel’s new electric arc furnaces.<\/p>\n
Biochar is a form of charcoal made from processed plant matter, in a low-oxygen environment.<\/p>\n
“The use of biochar is a way that Algoma Steel can further decarbonize its new electric furnace operations,” Ward 5 Coun. Corey Gardi said at a city council meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n
“To me, it’s like the math is pretty much already done,” Gardi said.<\/p>\n
“The province is literally waiting, from what I’ve read, to fund a large-scale deployment in a city that has both a steel mill and forestry residue.”<\/p>\n
In electric arc steelmaking, biochar can:<\/p>\n
\n\tact as a foaming agent to protect the arc
\n\treplace coke or anthracite as a carbon source
\n\timprove slag dynamics
\n\tincrease steel yield
\n\treduce CO\u2082 emissions
<\/p>\n
Gardi pointed out that Ontario’s 2025 Interim Report on the Forest Biomass Action Plan, specifically pointed to using biochar in steel production as a primary carbon reduction strategy.<\/p>\n
“I’d like to also mention that Algoma Steel is a member of the Canadian Iron & Steel Energy Research Association, which is currently leading research into the use of biocarbon for electric arc furnace slag foaming,” Gardi said.<\/p>\n
“While Algoma Steel hasn’t built its own biochar plants, they are positioned as the primary anchor customer in a community like ours for potential biochar producers in the region, such as CHAR Technologies<\/a>, which some may know has expanded its facilities in Ontario, in places like Espanola and Thorold.”<\/p>\n Gardi said there are are “tens of millions of dollars” available for projects of this kind, including money available from the federal Indigenous Forestry Initiative.<\/p>\n “The more we can do to get the economy going, the better,” the councillor said.<\/p>\n “As we enter 2026 we all feel the weight of our city, which is in transition.<\/p>\n “We’re all aware of the early closure of the blast furnaces at Algoma Steel and the difficult layoffs that have directly impacted 1,000 or so of our friends and neighbours.<\/p>\n “While these shifts are challenging, we all know they are not the end of our story. As a city with a rich industrial heritage, it can be the beginning of our next chapter.”<\/p>\n