BlueScope teams up with AU’s major iron ore producers for steel decarbonisation

Australia’s top iron metal producers, Rio Tinto and BHP, have united with the steelmaker, BlueScope, to lead endeavours in decarbonising steel creation.

The trio has agreed to investigate the creation of Australia’s first ironmaking Electric Smelting Furnace pilot plant, a significant step toward environmentally friendly steel manufacturing.

Rio Tinto stated that due to a recently signed framework agreement, Rio Tinto, BHP, and BlueScope would combine their respective expertise and resources to accelerate the development of ESF technology.

This initiative intends to show the practicality of creating molten iron from Pilbara metals utilising renewable power sources, combined with Direct Decreased Iron process innovation.

This drive could pave the way for steelmakers dependent on Australian iron metal to accomplish close to zero ozone-depleting substance discharges.

The organisation highlights a pledge to cooperative development, utilising BHP’s and Rio Tinto’s significant comprehension of Pilbara iron metals close by BlueScope’s functional capability in ESF innovation.

Simon Trott, chief executive of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, underlined the urgency of tending to the carbon intensity of steelmaking.

“We must find better ways to enable these materials to be made more sustainably through leveraging technology.

Echoing Trott’s sentiments, Tim Day, incoming BHP Western Australia Iron Ore Asset President, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership’s potential to revolutionise steel production, calling collaborations like this “so important for the success of these technologies,” said Trott.

Tania Archibald, chief executive of Australia BlueScope, illustrated the company’s vision for sustainable manufacturing, emphasising the meaning of utilising Australia’s normal benefits in iron metal assets and environmentally friendly power potential.

“We believe that this collaboration where we can contribute BlueScope’s unique experience in operating an ESF will be key to cracking the code for Pilbara ores in low emission-intensity ironmaking,” Archibald said.