The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), the largest government-owned steel producer in India, has partnered with global resources giant BHP to decarbonize steelmaking processes in the country. This collaboration follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two companies, aimed at exploring lower-carbon production pathways through the blast furnace (BF) route.
This partnership is a significant step in supporting India’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in steel manufacturing. Under the MoU, SAIL and BHP will investigate various workstreams focused on decarbonization at SAIL’s integrated steel plants that use blast furnaces. These workstreams will assess alternative reductants for the BF process, such as hydrogen and biochar, to develop strategies for lowering emissions and promoting sustainable steel production.
SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating, “SAIL is looking forward to working with BHP to advance sustainable steel production.” He emphasized that aligning the steel sector with climate commitments is essential and reaffirmed SAIL’s dedication to addressing climate change by fostering innovation within India’s steel industry.
The initiative will also focus on enhancing local research and development capabilities to support the transition to cleaner technologies. This technological shift is crucial for decarbonizing both India’s and the global steel industry over the mid-to-long term, and collaborations like this are vital for driving progress.
Rag Udd, Chief Commercial Officer at BHP, underscored the importance of the partnership, stating, “BHP has a longstanding relationship with SAIL, and we are pleased to extend and strengthen this relationship to explore decarbonization opportunities for the blast furnace route.” He added, “We understand that decarbonizing this industry is a challenge we cannot tackle alone; we must collaborate to leverage shared expertise and resources to develop technologies that can significantly impact carbon emissions both now and in the future.”
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