TECHNOLOGY

Kobe Steel, Mitsui and Vale in low-carbon steel venture

New venture would use Kobelco's MIDREX process and a low-carbon pig iron process from Vale.

Kobelco's Tosyali DRI plant in Algeria

Kobelco's Tosyali DRI plant in Algeria

The Japanese steel maker, operating under the Kobelco brand name, plans to bring the MIDREX Process, deployed by its Midrex Technologies subsidiary, to the planned venture, for which it has signed a non-binding agrrement with Vale and Mitsui.

MIDREX is a direct reduction ironmaking technology which uses natural or coal-derived gas to reduce iron ore for use in steelmaking. This reduces CO2 emission levels compared with the the blast furnace method. The technology is being used to produce 60% of the world's direct reduced iron (DRI), Kobelco claims.

Trading and investmenty company Mitsui said in a separate statement that Tecnored Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, a subsidiary of its investee Vale, is developing a low carbon pig iron process through the use of energy sources such as biomass, syngas and hydrogen.

"Together with these processes, the new joint venture would utilize Mitsui's marketing and business development know-how to provide low CO2 metallics and iron making solutions to the global steel industry," Mitsui said.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production