Vale, Saarland mills team up for decarbonisation

Vale and the two mills in Germany’s Saarland state will together explore solutions on carbon-neutral steelmaking processes, Kallanish hears from the Brazilian mining group.

To this effect, Vale has signed a memorandum of understanding with Stahl-Holding-Saar (SHS) GmbH & Co, the holding of platemaker Dillinger and special bar qualities mill Saarstahl.

The partners intend to jointly study the use of Vale’s green iron ore briquettes and direct reduction pellets in steelmaking. Also examined will be the use of Tecnored technology, as well as the design of a briquette plant located near SHS’s facilities.

Vale says this initiative will contribute to its commitment to reduce 15% of net Scope 3 emissions by 2035, and marks the first cooperation with a German company to this end. Since 2021, Vale has engaged with around 30 ironmaking clients representing approximately 50% of the company’s Scope 3 emissions, it says.

The SHS mills have scheduled to start production of low-carbon steel in 2027. The new production route will include an electric arc furnace at Saarstahl, and an EAF and direct reduced iron plant for the production of sponge iron at the Dillinger plant.

Christian Koehl Germany