South Korean steelmaker Posco plans to see rapid development of its hydrogen reduction steelmaking technology during 2026-2030.
The steelmaker said at the 2023 Korea Environment & Energy Trade Fair last week that it will use green hydrogen through HyREX technology to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) to feed electric arc furnaces. HyREX (Hydrogen Reduction) is a steelmaking method that manufactures molten metal using iron ore fines and hydrogen, based on Posco’s FINEX fluidized reduction technology. The steelmaker will cooperate with Primetals on developing this.
Posco aims to complete a 300,000 tonnes/year hydrogen reduction steelmaking plant by 2026 and introduce a 1 million tonnes/year commercial production plant by 2030, Kallanish notes. The factory was designed in July last year. If HyREX proves successful, it could gradually replace Posco’s blast furnaces after optimisation, and help the steel mill become carbon neutral by 2050.