China Baowu and Rio Tinto complete industrial-scale trials using Pilbara Blend ore in hydrogen direct reduction

China Baowu Steel Group/Zhanjiang Hydrogen Furnace

Rio Tinto and China Baowu successfully completed trials of hydrogen-based direct reduction using Australian Pilbara Blend ore pellets at Zhanjiang. The trials demonstrated that mid-grade Australian ore can serve as viable feedstock for hydrogen reduction, producing direct reduced iron convertible to steel in electric furnaces with potential for over 80% emissions reduction versus conventional blast furnaces.