Mitsubishi Corporation has announced its participation in an international demonstration project aimed at advancing a hydrogen-based ironmaking process.
The initiative, led by UK-based steel machinery company Primetals Technologies, also includes mining giant Rio Tinto and Austrian steelmaker voestalpine as key partners.
The project involves the construction and operation of an industrial-scale prototype plant at voestalpine’s steelworks in Linz, Austria, with operations expected to commence in mid-2027, Mitsubishi said in a news release.
The facility will use a combination of HYFOR (Hydrogen-based Fine Ore Reduction) and a new electric smelting furnace technology, both developed by Primetals, to produce hot metal and hot briquetted iron. The projected capacity of the plant is approximately three tons per hour.
According to Mitsubishi Corporation, the HYFOR process is the world’s first direct reduction technology for iron ore fines that eliminates the need for agglomeration steps and allows the use of a wide range of iron ores.
Since 2021, a pilot plant has been operational, and numerous successful test campaigns have already been conducted. By using hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources, the technology offers a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to traditional ironmaking methods.
The electric smelting furnace, also powered by renewable energy, is designed for melting and final reduction of direct reduced iron (DRI), converting it into hot metal suitable for steel production.
Funding for the prototype plant’s construction and operation is being provided by the Austrian federal government and the European Union.
As part of the collaboration, Rio Tinto will supply 70 percent of the iron ore used in the demonstration project.
The resulting DRI is expected to play a growing role in low-emission steelmaking, with demand for such technologies anticipated to rise in the medium to long term.
Mitsubishi Corporation stated that its involvement in the project aligns with its commitment to promoting sustainable industrial practices and contributing to the global push for decarbonisation.
