Rio Tinto to supply green steelmaking plant

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will supply 70% percent of the iron ore for Primetals’ industrial-scale prototype plant in Austria.

Primetals Technologies, together with its strategic partner Mitsubishi Corporation and Rio Tinto and globally leading steel and technology group voestalpine, signed a cooperation agreement to fast-track the development of fluidised bed and smelter technologies.

The participants will implement and operate an industrial-scale prototype plant scheduled for startup in 2027. The plant will feature a new process for potential net-zero carbon dioxide emissions ironmaking at the voestalpine site in Linz.

Rio Tinto will also support Primetals Technologies to accelerate the commercialisation of the technology.

The new ironmaking process with a projected capacity of 3t/hr of hot metal is based on the HYFOR and Smelter solutions from Primetals Technologies.

HYFOR is the world’s first direct reduction technology for iron ore fines that does not require any agglomeration steps.

The smelter is a furnace powered by renewable energy used for melting and final reduction of direct reduced iron (DRI).

Rio Tinto steel decarbonisation general manager Thomas Apffel comments on the partnership.

“We are delighted to join a consortium that encompasses the entire iron and steelmaking value chain,” he said.

“By contributing our ironmaking expertise and iron ores from our Pilbara, Iron Ore Company of Canada, and future Simandou operations, we aim to advance the development and adoption of fluidised bed technology.

“This fines-based ironmaking solution presents a compelling alternative to shaft furnace technology by eliminating the need for pelletisation, potentially offering substantial benefits to both steelmakers and miners.

“Rio Tinto welcomes additional participants to the consortium and looks forward to supporting the widespread implementation of this innovative technology.”

Primetals Technologies chief technology officer and green steel head Alexander Fleischanderl says this project represents a significant advancement in future-proof ironmaking.

“For the first time, we will implement a continuous production process with hydrogen-based direct reduction,” he said.

“The combination of HYFOR and Smelter is a highly innovative development with the potential to transform the industry, similar to the impact the LD converter (BOF) had on steel production.

“We are extremely proud to have the support of strong partners in voestalpine, Rio Tinto and Mitsubishi Corporation and together, we are poised to make a big difference to the future of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions ironmaking.”

Mitsubishi Corporation ferrous raw materials division chief operating officer Kenichiro Tauchi comments on the partnership.

“Mining and trading of ferrous raw materials has been one of our core businesses for many decades and we envision to develop a new supply of low emission metallics to support steel decarbonisation,” he said.

“HYFOR and Smelter are new promising technologies to accelerate the decarbonisation of the steel industry and Mitsubishi Corporation, as a strategic partner of Primetals Technologies, is excited to participate in the development of these groundbreaking technologies together with leading partners in the steel supply chain.”

voestalpine AG chief executive Herbert Eibensteiner says with greentec steel, the company has a clear phased plan for steel production with net zero carbon dioxide emissions.

“In a first step, one green-powered electric arc furnace will be put into operation at each of our sites in Linz and Donawitz starting in 2027,” he said.

“By 2029, we will have reduced our carbon dioxide emissions by up to 30% compared to 2019. That is equivalent to almost 5% of Austria’s entire annual carbon dioxide emissions, making greentec steel the largest climate protection program in Austria.

“Our long-term strategy is to use green hydrogen to achieve carbon-neutral steel production.

“Together with Primetals Technologies and Rio Tinto, we are taking an entirely new and promising approach to research into hydrogen-based pig iron production.”