Elkem sells Saguenay biocarbon unit to CHAR Tech, secures 5‑year 62,500‑t supply
- Elkem sold its Saguenay (Québec) biocarbon business and pilot/demo production facility to CHAR Technologies.
- CHAR Tech will supply Elkem with 62,500 tonnes of biocarbon over five years.
- The Saguenay site, built in 2022 to validate Elkem’s pellet process, is to be upgraded to produce up to 15,000 tonnes per year of pelletized biocarbon.
- The facility will process CHAR Tech’s raw biochar into pellets tailored for ferrosilicon production in electric arc furnaces; an industrial test used the material successfully in an Elkem Métals EAF.
Transaction details
Elkem sold its biocarbon business in Saguenay, Québec—including the pilot and demonstration production facility and proprietary pellet technology—to CHAR Technologies; the agreement includes a five‑year supply of 62,500 tonnes of biocarbon to Elkem.
Facility and upgrades
The Saguenay site, built in 2022 to validate Elkem’s pellet process, is slated for commercial upgrades to produce up to 15,000 tonnes per year of pelletized biocarbon and will convert CHAR Tech’s raw biochar into pellets tailored for heavy industrial use.
Supply and operations
The five‑year supply agreement secures a reliable source of biocarbon for Elkem’s Canadian and European smelters and links Elkem to CHAR Tech’s expanding production platform and commercial capacity to deliver at scale.
Validation
The facility recently produced volume used in an industrial test, with the resulting biocarbon successfully used in an Elkem Métals electric arc furnace nearby.
Source: Elkem