Rio Tino has signed a joint development agreement (JDA) with Calix to support the construction of a zero emissions steel technology demonstration plant in Western Australia.
Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz said the world is in desperate need of low-emissions steel if it is going to decarbonise and is continuing to look for different ways Pilbara iron ores can help as other new technologies emerge.
“We’re pleased to partner with Calix, an Australian technology company, to help progress the Zesty technology to be able to use Pilbara iron ores for lower-emissions steel making,” he said.
“In parallel, we’ll keep progressing BioIron with our partners, the University of Nottingham and Mesto, to further its potential. Both projects are part of our work to reduce emissions and support the future of iron ore in Australia and the communities that depend on it.”
Depending on approval, the demonstration plant will be built at a site in Kwinana, south of Perth. This is the same location that had been allocated for Rio Tinto’s BioIron Research and Development facility and power plant.
Rio Tinto is determined to spend more than $35 million to support Calix and the Zesty Green Iron Demonstration Plant, which is also supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Western Australia premier Roger Cook said that locally made green iron is a critical part of his vision to become a renewable powerhouse.
“Coupled with my Government’s recent announcement that Government will take on “if not, why not” approach to green steel procurement on major Government projects, the Zesty Green Iron Development Plant will support our efforts to diversify WA’s economy so that it can remain the strongest in the nation,” he said.
“I welcome this agreement between Calix and Rio Tinto, which will play an important role in growing this exciting new industry in WA.”
The Kwinana site is close in proximity to the NeoSmelt facility, meaning there is potential downstream processing of Direct Reduced Iron produced by the Zesty plant. Rio Tinto is one of the five companies developing the NeoSmelt project, which also secured ARENA funding.
Calix chief executive officer Phil Hodgson said that the JDA with Rio Tinto is a major milestone in the commercialisation of the Zesty plant.
“This strong support from Rio Tinto provides further validation of the potential for deployment of the Zesty technology to the world’s largest minerals and metals market, its potential to help decarbonise a critical industry responsible for around eight per cent of global CO2 emissions, and the opportunity to help future-proof Australia’s largest source of export income,” he said.
“We look forward to working with Rio Tinto, further industry partners and other key stakeholders, and ARENA on this important Australian project.”