Rio Tinto has completed industrial-scale pelletisation and shaft furnace trials alongside one of the world’s largest steel enterprises China Baowu.
Using Rio Tinto’s Pilbara Blend iron ore, the partnership set out to reduce steelmaking emissions.
The trials took place in China at China Baowu’s Baoshan Iron & Steel Zhanjiang Steel operations. The team used a hydrogen-based shaft furnace to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) from pellets comprised of one-third Pilbara Blend iron ore.
The tests proved successful, as DRI was converted into steel in an industrial-scale basic oxygen furnace wand then further tested in a small-scale electric smelting furnace.
Baowu low carbon centre executive deputy director and Baowu central research institute deputy director Dr Mao Xiaoming said the trials prove mid-grade ores mined in Western Australia’s Pilbara region have the capacity to significantly reduce steelmaking emissions.
“These trials represent pragmatic actions implemented under the Climate Partnership MoU between China Baowu and Rio Tinto,” Xiaoming said.
“The successful industrial-scale trials help both parties advance understanding in lower-emissions iron and steel making technologies.
“More importantly, they reflect the strong technical collaboration between Baowu and Rio Tinto, combining our respective expertise across iron ore, process innovation and industrial application.”
In a recent media release, Rio Tinto stated although reduction shaft furnace production is a largely well-known practice, expanding feedstock and fuel options has long been a key industry focus.
Rio Tinto iron ore sale and marketing Vice President Ramona Sim said the successful Pilbara Blend iron ore trials is a significant “technical milestone” for industry.
“It (Pilbara Blend) has the potential to significantly reduce emissions when compared with the traditional blast furnace,” Sim said.
“The trials, alongside our broader ongoing work, continue to build confidence that Pilbara iron ore can play a critical role in lower carbon steelmaking.
“We remain committed to working closely with our customers to develop practical, scalable solutions that support their decarbonisation goals and position Pilbara iron ore for a lower-carbon future.”
Rio Tinto and China Baowu have worked together for more than 50 years across project development, technology innovation and steelmaking research. The companies have been progressing a multi-phase decarbonisation partnership since 2020.
