Extended climate partnership to decarbonise steel value chain
(Posted on 12/06/23)
China Baowu, the world’s biggest steelmaker, and Rio Tinto, the world’s largest iron ore producer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a range of industry leading new projects in China and Australia to help decarbonise the steel value chain.
Under the MoU, China Baowu and Rio Tinto plan to jointly advance specific decarbonisation projects, demonstrating their commitment to play a leading role in the industry’s low-carbon transformation.
The MoU, signed in Shanghai by Rio Tinto Chief Commercial Officer Alf Barrios, and China Baowu Vice President Hou Angui, follows the recently announced $2 billion Western Range Joint Venture in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, involving Rio Tinto and Baowu.
The projects include:
- Research, build and demonstrate a pilot-scale electric melter at one of Baowu’s steel mills in China. This will enable low-carbon steel making utilising Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) that has been produced from low and medium grade ores.
- Optimise pelletisation technology for Australian ores as a feedstock for low-carbon shaft furnace-based direct reduction.
- Expand the development of China Baowu’s HyCROF technology which can largely mitigate CO2 emissions from the blast furnace process.
- Jointly study opportunities for producing low-carbon iron in Western Australia.
These innovative projects are an outcome of the long-standing collaboration between Rio Tinto and China Baowu spanning 50 years. To progress each initiative, both companies have committed to sharing resources and expertise.
Rio Tinto’s Chief Commercial Officer Alf Barrios said, “Rio Tinto and China Baowu are united in a commitment to accelerating the delivery of low-carbon solutions for the entire steel value chain. This MoU aims to address one of the biggest challenges faced by the industry – developing a low-carbon pathway for low-to-medium grade iron ores, which account for the vast majority of global iron ore supply.
“China’s commitment to curbing emissions and promoting high-quality green development is strongly aligned with our own position where climate change and the low-carbon transition are at the heart of our strategy.”
Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive of Iron Ore Simon Trott said, “Our relationship with China Baowu in Western Australia has been a proud and successful one, extending back more than 40 years. We look forward to progressing this study into the potential of low-carbon iron making in Western Australia as we work to ensure a positive future for Pilbara ores in a green steel world.
China Baowu said, “With the mission of building an industrial ecosystem to promote the progress of human civilisation, China Baowu is committed to working with Rio Tinto to jointly study and provide low-carbon and green comprehensive solutions for the steel value chain, help the low-carbon transformation and upgrade of the steel industry chain, and support the world to address the challenge of climate change with pragmatic actions.”
Rio Tinto and China Baowu have a long history of collaboration including on project development in Australia and Guinea, new technology research and deployment, and steel making emissions reduction.
Latest News
NGFA comments on US East and Gulf Coast port labour deal
(Posted on 10/01/25)The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. have... Read more
Vitol completes acquisition of Noble Resources
(Posted on 07/01/25)Further to the announcement of 2nd August 2024, Vitol B.V. has now completed the acquisition of... Read more
Rio Tinto progresses development of Quebec gallium extraction process
(Posted on 17/12/24)As part of a research and development programme, Rio Tinto is assessing the potential for extracting... Read more
Trafigura publishes 2024 Annual Results
(Posted on 17/12/24)Trafigura Group Pte Ltd, a market leader in the global commodities industry, has released results for... Read more
Anglo American completes Serpentina premium iron ore transaction
(Posted on 11/12/24)Anglo American plc has announced the completion of the transaction to combine the Serra da Serpentina... Read more
BHP Group Investor Relations Officer appointed
(Posted on 11/12/24)BHP has appointed Mark Bendall as Group Investor Relations Officer, effective 1 April 2025.Mr Bendall... Read more
Fertilizers Europe welcomes EU Members requests for tariffs on Russian fertilizers
(Posted on 04/12/24)Fertilizers Europe, the voice of the European fertilizer industry, has welcomed and fully supports the... Read more
The Cultured Hub opens its state-of-the-art biotech facility in Switzerland
(Posted on 04/12/24)The Cultured Hub officially opens its doors today, marking a milestone for the global cellular agriculture... Read more
New partnership agreement to study low carbon aluminium project in Finland
(Posted on 04/12/24)Rio Tinto has entered into a partnership agreement with the Swedish investment company Vargas, Mitsubishi... Read more
Italian steel handling specialist Transped boosts efficiency
(Posted on 29/11/24)Transped S.p.A. has ordered a Konecranes Gottwald Generation 6 mobile harbour crane to expand its handling... Read more
