As part of the project, Tata Steel will collaborate with Paul Wurth S.A. (Paul Wurth Luxembourg), a part of SMS group GmbH.
Tata Steel plans to carry out the first industrial-scale demonstration of the EASyMelt technology at the E blast furnace located in Jamshedpur, India. This facility, with a capacity of 649 cubic meters, is planned to be gradually converted to the EASyMelt system. Upon completion, the E blast furnace in Jamshedpur will become the first facility in the world to be converted to EASyMelt technology.
The company’s target is to reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 50% compared to the current basic operating structure of the blast furnace. EASyMelt (Electric Assisted Syngas Melter) is defined as one of the most resource-flexible solutions for decarbonization in iron production and stands out as a technology with the potential to achieve climate neutrality.
Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director T. V. Narendran, in his statement regarding the cooperation, said: “The transition to low-carbon steel production will be shaped by our ability to redesign and transform existing production ecosystems. As Tata Steel, we are advancing this transformation with a focused combination of technology, innovation, and strong partnerships. Our collaboration with SMS Group is an important milestone accelerating our journey toward the net zero target.”
SMS group CEO Jochen Burg stated: “We appreciate Tata Steel’s confidence in our capabilities. This commitment from an industry leader enables us to bring our EASyMelt technology to life. Building the first EASyMelt at industrial scale is an important milestone and paves the way for future decarbonization projects of existing plants.”
Tata Steel Limited and SMS group had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 14, 2023, to decarbonize the ironmaking process. Following a successful preliminary phase, the project has been decided to proceed in stages.
This initiative is considered an important milestone in Tata Steel’s journey to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. This target stands out as one of the most ambitious net zero goals among major global steel producers. The two companies will continue their joint efforts for the implementation and development of the EASyMelt technology.
EASyMelt technology enables blast furnaces to operate with minimal coke usage. The system integrates syngas into the reduction process, significantly reducing carbon emissions. In this process, syngas replaces coke in blast furnaces and is used as a reducing agent.
The technology also produces syngas through the reforming of hydrocarbon-containing gases (such as coke oven gas) via top gas recycling. The generated syngas is then injected at the shaft and tuyere levels. Additionally, the syngas injected into the tuyere is superheated using plasma torches, enabling the direct electrification of the process.
Another important feature of EASyMelt is its energy source flexibility. The technology can utilize different energy sources such as natural gas, coke oven gas, hydrogen, ammonia, and electricity, allowing it to be adapted according to local resource availability and needs.
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