Low-carbon tech, R&D and pursuit of high-quality development spur new steelmaking

As China endeavors to peak its carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, the country's steel industry, one of the main carbon emitters, is undergoing a new round of technological innovation and operational reforms.

Green change is visible in both the private sector and State-owned enterprises. This is expected to further the industry's contribution to China's quest for high-quality development.

On April 22, the China Iron and Steel Association, whose members are the country's major steel mills, set up a Steel Industry Low-Carbon Promotion Committee to lead efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

The committee comprises experts from universities, research institutions, steel enterprises, engineering firms and construction companies. Their mandate is to research and develop carbon emission reduction technologies as well as to standardize criteria for related issues.

Its main tasks also include promoting low-carbon technologies and advancing the steel industry's efforts for green development and carbon emissions reduction, said Luo Tiejun, vice-chairman of the CISA.

"The industry has already been strengthening efforts for carbon emissions reduction and low energy use since a few years ago, and such endeavors provide a firm basis for new efforts to achieve the new carbon goals," he said.

Many steel companies, including central State-owned, private, and regionally leading ones, have already been investing heavily in R&D of new technologies, he said. Industry insiders said because the majority of Chinese steel enterprises use blast furnace method of steelmaking, which relies on carbon as fuel and agent for iron ore reduction, it is imperative that they upgrade their production technologies and optimize processing procedures to reduce carbon emissions.