BHP will extend its collaboration with the Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research (CIMR) at the University of Newcastle with a further A$10 million in funding to assist ongoing research into decarbonising steelmaking.
The extended research program will focus on low-carbon iron and steelmaking using BHP’s iron ore and metallurgical coal, including traditional blast furnace ironmaking with hydrogen, as well as emerging alternative low-carbon ironmaking technologies.
The collaboration will last five years and will help train the next generation of PhD researchers and engineers, thanks to support from BHP’s US$400 million Climate Investment Program.
BHP has a long and storied history with the city of Newcastle and the University of Newcastle, dating back to 1957 when the two entities began collaborating on iron and steel research. BHP’s support for the local community and steelmaking research continued with the establishment of the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) in 2010.
Several members of the current BHP Marketing team began their careers at the Newcastle Technology Centre, including Dr Rod Dukino, BHP VP Sales & Marketing Iron Ore, who believes NIER’s research is critical to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“Greenhouse gas emissions from steelmaking represent around 7-10 per cent of global total estimated emissions and the industry remains one of the most difficult sectors in the world to abate. Research and innovation have a critical role to play in accelerating the industry’s transition to a low carbon future,” said Dr Dukino.
“The expanded research program with the University of Newcastle complements BHP’s existing partnerships with our key steelmaking customers in China, Japan and South Korea. We are pursuing the long-term goal of net zero Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 20501.
“Recognising the particular challenge of a net zero pathway for this hard-to-abate sector, we are continuing to partner with customers and others in the steel value chain to seek to accelerate the transition to carbon neutral steelmaking.”
Professor Alex Zelinsky, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, welcomed the funding, saying that NIER’s continuous work would help foster the type of home-grown innovation needed to decarbonize the planet.
“Through our strategic plan, which was shaped by our students, staff and our communities, we are committed to supporting the?innovation required to?bring the world closer to a sustainable future with solutions for the use of natural resources and the development of new energy technologies,” Professor Zelinsky added.
“This continued partnership with BHP is a clear example of the University’s commitment to driving technological advancement through industry-engaged research, and we are honoured to continue with BHP’s legacy of innovation at our dedicated NIER precinct.”
