GERDAU S.A. announced an investment plan in Minas Gerais amounting to BRL 6 billion over the next five years, which includes modernization, technological updating and expansion projects at its sites in the state. The investment, which reinforces the company’s commitment to the state’s sustainable, economic and social development, will create over 6,000 new direct and indirect jobs. The investments are divided into three fronts: growth, technological updating and diversification, with improving environmental practices a basic principle incorporated across all projects. The plan, which involves all regions where Gerdau has operations, will benefit dozens of municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais and focus on steel production, mining, renewable energy generation and forest cultivation. Two important investments to expand steel production will be made in Ouro Branco, where the company’s main production unit is located. The unit’s annual production capacity of hot-rolled coils will expand by 250,000 tons/year, with commercial startup slated for early 2024. Gerdau also is expanding the production of structural profiles by 500,000 tons/year, which represents a doubling of current capacity, with startup estimated for 2025. The expansion projects are part of Gerdau’s mission of continuing to meet the growing demand from the sectors that consume these products in Brazil and Latin America. Investments also will be made to improve environmental practices and technological modernization under the scope of Industry 4.0 for Gerdau’s entire industrial base in Minas Gerais, which includes not only the Ouro Branco Unit, but also its plants located in the municipalities of Barão de Cocais, Divinópolis and Sete Lagoas. For these units, Gerdau has a bold plan to adopt the use of digital tools to control processes and decisions, expand automation systems, implement tools for energy efficiency gains, increase water efficiency and modernize equipment for controlling particulate emissions, which will cause positive environmental impacts for local communities.