New steel line in Zhanjiang replaces coke with hydrogen and reduces carbon emissions by up to 80%.
- Direct iron reduction (DRI).
- Natural gas as a transition stage.
- Plant prepared for hydrogen.
- One million tons per year.
- Less emissions than the blast furnace.
## China consolidates a low-emission steel industrial line in zhanjiang
China operates from the beginning of 2024 a low emission steel industrial line in the city of Zhanjiang in the south of the country. It is indeed not a recent inauguration nor an experimental technology. It is a functioning facility that reflects a major shift in how the Chinese steel industry is beginning to align with lower carbon footprint trajectories.
You have to understand the project as a necessary intermediate step within a complex and gradual industrial transition.
## A well-known technology, applied on a large scale
The plant is based on direct iron reduction (DRI), a process used for decades in different regions of the world. In 2024, this technological route produced around 144 million tons of steel compared to a global production close to 1.9 billion tons. It’s not new. But it is increasingly relevant.
The difference compared to the conventional blast furnace is clear: the DRI avoid the use of coke and allows iron ore to be reduced by gases, which substantially reduces CO emissions even when fossil fuels are used.
## Natural gas today, hydrogen tomorrow
An vital nuance: the plant is not currently running on green hydrogen. Use natural gas (
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