Japan: Kobe Steel introducing steel scrap melting furnace to cut annual emissions by 0.8 mnt

• Kobe to raise green steel capacity to 700,000 t
  
  
• Company working with biomass, HBI for CO2 neutrality
  
  

Japan Metal Daily:Kobe Steel Works has announced an iron scrap melting furnace at the Kakogawa Steel Plant (Kakogawa City, Hyogo Prefecture) will increase the annual supply capacity of GX steel (green steel) by 400,000 tonnes (t), expanding to 700,000 t. It responds to the growing procurement needs of GX steel in industries such as automotive, construction, and shipbuilding. By mixing scrap-derived molten steel with existing converters, it will also lead to a reduction of 800,000 t of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

The melting furnace aims to operate with an investment of JPY 100 billion. Kobe Steel President Shishihiko Katsukawa emphasised the policy of effectively utilising melting furnaces in the steel business's efforts toward carbon neutrality.

Kobelco is currently promoting initiatives such as the use of biomass and the increase in the formulation of reduced iron (HBI type) with an investment of JPY 50 billion to reduce CO2 emissions and expand the supply of GX steel. If a series of initiatives are realised, the supply capacity of GX steel will increase to 400,000 t. With the introduction of a melting furnace, it will be further expanded to 700,000 t.

The steel industry's timetable for carbon neutrality has been partially reviewed. Regarding the process conversion of the existing blast furnace in Kakogawa, the direction was previously set at 30 years but due to the prospect of extending the life of the blast furnace, the decision period was announced to be extended to around 40 years.

The capacity of the steel scrap melting furnace is expected to be 700,000 t per year based on molten steel. Vice President Shoji Miyazaki explained that the ratio of hot metal in the converter after the melting furnace is put into operation: "If you include raw materials derived from iron ore, it will be about 50%. Currently, it is about 93%, so it is predicted that the CO2 emission intensity (per tonne of crude steel) will be reduced by about 5% due to the use of steel scrap."

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