SAIL Partners with BHP to Drive Decarbonization of Steelmaking in India!

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), India’s largest state-owned steel producer, has partnered with global resources company BHP to explore innovative decarbonization solutions for steel production. The collaboration is part of a larger effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in India’s steel sector and aligns with the country’s broader climate commitments.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two companies, the partnership will focus on testing alternative reductants such as hydrogen and biochar in SAIL’s integrated steel plants. These alternative materials are expected to play a crucial role in cutting carbon emissions generated through the traditional blast furnace (BF) route, which is currently the dominant method of steel production in India.

Amarendu Prakash, Chairman of SAIL, expressed optimism about the initiative, stating, “SAIL is committed to exploring sustainable ways to produce steel and addressing the need to align the sector with climate goals. This partnership with BHP is a step forward in that direction.” The collaboration is a significant move as India works towards achieving a low-carbon steelmaking future, in line with its sustainability objectives.

Rag Udd, Chief Commercial Officer at BHP, highlighted the importance of collective action, saying, “We must leverage shared expertise and resources to develop technologies that could significantly reduce carbon emissions in the steel industry, both in India and globally.” The partnership aims not only to explore immediate solutions for reducing emissions but also to build local research and development capabilities, which are essential for the long-term adoption of cleaner steel production technologies.

This initiative represents a critical step toward advancing sustainable practices in India’s steel industry and contributing to global decarbonization efforts in steelmaking.