International Steel Mills
CRU: Nippon Steel claims breakthrough in hydrogen use
Written by CRU
January 2, 2025
Japan’s Nippon Steel says it has achieved the world’s highest reduction in CO2 emissions to date by using heated hydrogen instead of coal to reduce iron ore in a blast furnace.
The steelmaker has trialed its Super COURSE50 technology in a pilot blast furnace (BF), with an inner volume of 12 cubic meters, at the Kimitsu area of the East Nippon works since May 2022.
The company says carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 22% in 2022, followed by 33% in 2023, and 43% in a test conducted between November and December 2024. Progress was achieved by improving the heat balance of hydrogen used in the reduction of iron ore.
Nippon Steel says it will continue to develop technologies based on hydrogen-reduction to cut CO2 emissions from steelmaking by more than 50%, as well as scale up the technology so it can be used in large BFs.
Partners in the government-funded project include compatriot integrated steelmakers JFE and Kobe.
This analysis was first published by CRU. To learn about CRU’s global commodities research and analysis services, visit www.crugroup.com.
Latest in International Steel Mills
Opening briefs filed in Nippon/USS lawsuit vs. US government
Together, Nippon Steel, Nippon Steel North America, and U.S. Steel announced the filing of their opening brief in their litigation to invalidate the government’s decision to block their announced merger. The brief lays out “how President Biden made a predetermined decision for political reasons, not national security, causing CFIUS to engage in a sham review […]
Hyundai mulls building $6B sheet steel mill in southern US
Hyundai Motor Group is reportedly considering building a sheet steel mill just south of Baton Rouge, La.
Nippon buying stake in Canadian iron ore project
Nippon Steel and a Japanese trading company have entered an agreement to buy a 49% interest in a Champion Iron ore project in Canada.
Nippon respects HR dumping decision, expects lower rate in next review
Nippon Steel says it respects the US Department of Commerce’s findings in administrative reviews despite the agency recently assigning the Japanese steelmaker a higher dumping margin.