Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Industrial  -  November 20, 2024

Rio Tinto Accelerates Decarbonization of Steel

Rio Tinto inked definitive agreements to help accelerate a steel decarbonization project in France. 

The company signed an agreement to support GravitHy,  an early-stage industrial company, with its French steel decarbonization project. As part of this collaboration, Rio Tinto will supply high-grade direct reduction iron ore pellets from its Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operations to GravitHy’s planned operation, as well as manage the sales and marketing of ultra-low carbon Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) GravitHy produces.

GravitHy's proposed two million tons per year iron production facility at Fos-sur-Mer, France, is planned to be commissioned in 2028. The facility, which is located next to a deep seaport, will feature ultra-low carbon hydrogen production infrastructure, powered by existing grid-connected nuclear power, to process direct reduction pellets into HBI. This process has the potential to reduce ironmaking-related CO2 emissions by more than 90%.

“This collaboration is aligned with Rio Tinto’s steel decarbonization strategy to accelerate the development of low-carbon Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking with high-grade iron as feedstock,” said Rio Tinto Head of Steel Decarbonisation Simon Farry in a statement. “This will allow us to both reduce our Scope 3 emissions and create valuable decarbonized pathways for our high-grade iron ore. We are excited to support GravitHy’s project and expand our understanding of the emerging green iron and steel market.”

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