Japan: Kobe Steel reduces CO2 emissions by 25% in blast furnace experiment

In a significant breakthrough, Kobe Steel Co., Ltd. has successfully conducted an experiment to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its large blast furnace by 25%. This is a remarkable achievement, especially given that it is a 5% improvement over the company's previous attempt.

The experiment was conducted over a two-month period from April to June 2023. Kobe Steel was able to achieve this impressive reduction by increasing the use of a material called HBI (hot briquetted iron) and decreasing the use of coal. HBI is made using natural gas, which is a cleaner fuel than coal.

By increasing the amount of HBI used per ton of pig iron by about 50% and reducing the amount of carbon raw material used per tonne of hot metal, Kobe Steel was able to lower the ratio of reducing materials--which affects CO2 emissions from blast furnaces--from 518 kilograms to 386 kilograms. Additionally, the amount of coke used was limited to 230 kilograms. These figures are among the lowest in the world.

Based on the success of this experiment, Kobe Steel plans to seek certification from a certification body and increase the sales volume of Covenable Steel, its low-CO2 steel material. Covenable Steel has already received orders from various industries, including automobiles, construction, and ships. Kobe Steel hopes to encourage more customers to adopt this environmentally friendly product.

This breakthrough by Kobe Steel is a major step forward in the fight against climate change. The company's technology to reduce CO2 emissions from blast furnaces could be widely adopted by steelmakers around the world, helping to reduce the global steel industry's environmental impact.

Note: This article has been written in accordance with an article exchange agreement between Japan Metal Daily and SteelMint.