China Baowu and Rio Tinto have announced the successful completion of industrial-scale pelletization and direct reduction trials using Rio Tinto’s Pilbara Blend iron ore at Baowu’s Zhanjiang Steel operations in China.
The trials used a hydrogen-based shaft furnace to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) from pellets containing approximately one-third Pilbara Blend ore. The resulting DRI was then converted into steel using an industrial-scale basic oxygen furnace and tested in a small-scale electric smelting furnace.
According to the companies, the trials demonstrate the potential of mid-grade iron ore from Western Australia’s Pilbara region as feedstock for hydrogen-based direct reduction processes. The approach could support lower-carbon steelmaking when combined with electric smelting furnace technology.
The work forms part of a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding between China Baowu and Rio Tinto focused on technologies that can help decarbonize the steel value chain. Both companies said the trials have improved their understanding of lower-emission iron and steelmaking pathways and the potential role of Pilbara Blend iron ore in future direct-reduction applications.
Why it matters for green steel: The successful trials demonstrate that mid-grade iron ore can potentially be used in hydrogen-based direct reduction processes, expanding the range of feedstocks available for low-carbon steel production. As steelmakers seek practical pathways to reduce emissions, developments like these could accelerate the adoption of hydrogen-based steelmaking technologies and support broader industry decarbonization goals.