Anglo American, thyssenkrupp collaborate on greener steelmaking

Anglo American and thyssenkrupp Steel have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing new pathways for the decarbonisation of steelmaking.

The collaboration will focus on joint research to accelerate the development of high-quality input stock for lower carbon steel production, using both conventional blast furnace and direct reduction iron, Kallanish hears from the partners.

As part of its tkH2Steel transformation concept, thyssenkrupp Steel’s coal-based blast furnaces will be replaced by hydrogen-powered direct reduction equipment. To that purpose, it is working with many partners to make steel lower in CO2 across the board, says its chief technology officer Arnd Köfler. With Anglo American, the steelmaker will “explore ways in which we can use high-grade iron ore in the production process in the best way possible for reducing emissions,” Köfler says.

Anglo American has adopted a holistic approach to address the challenges of climate change, building on the commitments set out in its 2018 Sustainable Mining Plan to decarbonise its operations. The reduction of CO2 emissions across the entire steel value chain includes investing in climate-positive technologies and working closely with steelmakers to support their specific decarbonisation efforts.

“Anglo American’s high quality iron ore products are primed to play an important role in enabling low carbon steel production at scale,” says the company’s marketing chief, Peter Whitcutt.

Christian Koehl Germany