Flavia Dias Souza, Global Director of Energy and Supplies at Gerdau, Drives Steel Industry's Decarbonization Through Strategic Biofuel Partnership

In an industry where emissions reduction can make or break sustainability commitments, Flavia Dias Souza, Global Director of Energy and Supplies at Gerdau, is spearheading a transformative partnership that could reshape how steel producers approach decarbonization.

Souza has orchestrated a strategic collaboration between the 124-year-old steel giant and Be8 Energy to pilot the company's BeVant biofuel at Gerdau's mining operations in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The initiative represents a significant step in her mission to drive the company toward its ambitious 2031 carbon intensity targets.

A Leader's Vision for Sustainable Steel

"At 124 years of history, Gerdau is committed to being part of the solutions to society's challenges and dilemmas, acting collaboratively in building a more sustainable future for the planet," Souza explains. "The partnership with Be8 will contribute to the development of technologies aimed at a low-carbon economy, creating avenues of opportunity for the decarbonization of the steel sector."

Under Souza's leadership in energy and supply chain strategy, Gerdau continues to advance its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity from its current level of 0.91 t CO₂e per ton of steel (Scopes 1 and 2) to 0.82 t CO₂e per ton of steel by 2031.

Piloting the Future of Clean Energy

The partnership will see Gerdau testing Be8's BeVant technology across critical operations, including backup generators and the logistics fleet at the mining facility. What sets this initiative apart is the biofuel's capability to completely replace fossil diesel, a 100% substitution that could accelerate decarbonization gains significantly.

Souza's approach reflects a pragmatic understanding that meaningful emissions reductions require testing innovative solutions in real-world industrial applications. The pilot program positions Gerdau not just as a consumer of clean energy solutions, but as an active partner in validating and scaling technologies that could benefit the entire steel industry.

Strategic Thinking in Energy Procurement

As Global Director of Energy and Supplies, Souza oversees one of the most complex energy portfolios in the steel sector. Her decision to partner with Be8 demonstrates sophisticated strategic thinking: rather than waiting for proven technologies to become mainstream, she's positioning Gerdau at the forefront of innovation by participating in the validation process itself.

"Supporting Gerdau in continuing its leadership in building a sustainable steel industry through the use of Be8 BeVant is a source of great pride for the entire Be8 team," said Erasmo Carlos Battistella, President of Be8. "Our product is a new biofuel capable of being used 100% pure and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Technology Meets Industrial Reality

Be8's BeVant represents cutting-edge innovation in the biofuel sector, a patented, high-performance product developed to be the newest biofuel in Brazil's clean energy market. The fuel has already been validated by major companies in the automotive parts sector, diesel engine manufacturers, and in stationary generators, as well as in agricultural and construction machinery.

For Souza, this track record likely provides the confidence needed to move forward with industrial-scale testing in Gerdau's demanding mining environment.

Industry Impact

Souza's leadership on this initiative extends beyond Gerdau's own operations. By publicly committing to test and potentially scale this technology, she's sending a signal to the broader steel industry about viable pathways to decarbonization. Her collaborative approach, working directly with energy innovators rather than simply purchasing offsets or renewable energy certificates, sets a standard for how industrial leaders can actively participate in building the low-carbon economy.

As the steel industry faces mounting pressure to reduce emissions, executives like Flavia Dias Souza are proving that achieving sustainability targets requires more than commitments. It demands hands-on leadership, strategic partnerships, and the willingness to pilot unproven technologies in real industrial settings.

About Be8: A global renewable energy company implementing new energy matrices through a circular innovation ecosystem. Founded in 2005 as part of ECB Group, with headquarters in Passo Fundo (RS), Brazil, and administrative offices in São Paulo, Geneva (Switzerland), and Dubai (UAE), Be8 has installed capacity to scale production rapidly for both domestic and international markets.