A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between BHP and the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is set to promote lower carbon steelmaking technology pathways and progress steelmaking decarbonisation.
Under this MoU, the parties are already exploring several workstreams supporting the potential decarbonisation of SAIL’s blast furnace steel plants. The pair are commencing with an initial study to assess various strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
These workstreams will consider the role of alternate reductants for the blast furnace – such as hydrogen and biochar use – with a goal to also build local research and development capability to support the decarbonisation transition. The deployment of technology and abatements on the blast furnace is essential to decarbonising India’s and the global steel industry in the mid- and long-term, and partnerships are vital in the approach.
The collaboration is an important step for BHP in supporting lower-carbon steelmaking technology pathways for the blast furnace route in India, a key growth country for steel.
SAIL Chairman, Shri Amarendu Prakash, said SAIL is looking forward to collaborating with BHP and taking a step towards developing sustainable ways to produce steel.
“The emergent need to align the steel sector with climate commitments is non-negotiable. SAIL is committed to contributing towards tackling the issue of climate change through fostering an innovative future for the steel industry in India.”
BHP’s CCO, Rag Udd, said, “BHP has a long-established relationship with SAIL, and we are pleased to be extending and strengthening this relationship to explore decarbonisation opportunities for the blast furnace route.
“We recognise that decarbonising this industry is a challenge that we cannot meet alone, and we must come together to leverage shared expertise and resources to support the development of technologies and capability that could have the potential to create a real change in carbon emissions both now and in the longer term.”
