Tag Archives: Hebei

BHP and China’s HBIS Group Co Ltd expand partnership to CCUS tech trial

Coal technology, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining services, Steel and iron ore, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

BHP has signed an agreement for piloting of carbon capture and utilisation technology with China’s HBIS Group Co Ltd (HBIS), one of the world’s largest steelmakers and a major iron ore customer of BHP.

As part of this new project, HBIS and BHP will trial pilot-scale demonstrations of carbon capture and utilisation technologies at HBIS’ steel operations in China. The trial will develop and test technologies that can be integrated into steel production processes to reduce the CO2 emissions. These include Vacuum Pressure Swing Adsorption, VPSA, an alternative technology to capture the CO2, and two utilisation technologies (slag mineralisation and biological conversion to protein) to sequester the CO2.

In addition, BHP will support HBIS in developing and deploying absorptive desulphurisation at HBIS ZXHT Hydrogen Metallurgy Demonstration Project in Xuanhua, Hebei, intended to enable the utilisation of circa-60,000 t/y of captured CO2 from the direct reduced iron (DRI) process in the food or industrial sectors.

BHP’s Chief Commercial Officer, Vandita Pant, said: “Our multi-faceted partnership with HBIS will now include pilot testing of novel carbon capture technology at their operating sites in Hebei, and builds on the separate carbon capture trial with ArcelorMittal, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry and Mitsubishi Development, announced in October 2022. Hebei province accounts for around 20% of China’s reported steel production and represents one of the locations in which we aim to support future carbon capture, utilisation and storage initiatives. With our support, HBIS will also be pilot testing options for the utilisation of captured carbon dioxide for the production of saleable products and sequestration in waste slag.”

This new agreement expands on the work streams envisaged in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by BHP and HBIS in 2021, together with the Phase 1 research and development work announced in 2022 with HBIS and University of Science and Technology Beijing. In separate work under the MoU, BHP has also supported HBIS in Enhanced Lump trials, aimed at developing processes for improving direct feed iron ore lump use to achieve incremental reductions in carbon dioxide emissions intensity of steel production, at one of the steelmaker’s plants in Hebei province.

BHP’s latest collaboration agreement with HBIS will tap into the investment of up to $15 million over three years proposed by BHP and HBIS in the MoU signed in 2021.

HBIS Chairman, Yu Yong, said: “BHP is a globally renowned resource company and a long-term partner with HBIS with shared goals in relation to the development of technologies to abate carbon emissions in the steel-making sector. The signing of these projects is another milestone since the two parties’ ‘Memorandum of Understanding for Strategic Collaboration in Climate Change’ signed in 2021, it starts a new journey in jointly exploring CCUS technology developments in the steel sector.”

Chairman Yu also stated: “HBIS is committed to being a leader, explorer, and practitioner in the industry’s transition to lower carbon emissions. CCUS has been identified as a breakthrough technology for reducing carbon emissions from steel and this has anchored CCUS technology as a key component in HBIS Group’s low-carbon technology roadmap. In the future, HBIS will continue to focus on the goal of jointly addressing climate change, deepening cooperation with industry value chain partners, adhering to the concept of sustainable development, and consistently cultivating and investing in the green and low-carbon field.”

Metso Outotec banks fifth Chinese pelletising order in two years

Mining equipment, Steel and iron ore, , , , ,

Metso Outotec has signed a contract with Beijing Shougang International Engineering Technology Co. Ltd. (BSIET) for the delivery of an iron ore pelletising plant to Shougang Qian’an Iron and Steel Co. Ltd.

The plant will be built in Qian’an, Hebei province, China. The order value, which is not disclosed, is booked into the company’s Metals’ September-quarter orders received.

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery includes the engineering and design of the indurating system and process gas fan system, as well as supply of proprietary equipment, instrumentation and control systems. Supervisory services and technical training are also included in the delivery scope. The core of the plant is Metso Outotec’s traveling grate pellet indurating furnace with a grate area of 504 sq.m.

Attaul Ahmad, Vice President, Ferrous & Heat Transfer business line at Metso Outotec, said: “We are very excited about this recent win in China. This is our fifth pelletising plant order in China since 2020. The win is yet another demonstration of our strong technological leadership in the pelletising space, as well as our long-term partnership with BSIET. We are looking forward to further strengthening our cooperation with BSIET and the customer operating the steel plant in Qian’an.”

Pellet production at the Qian’an plant is estimated to start by the end of 2023.

Metso Outotec says its traveling grate technology ensures high performance and quality while significantly decreasing energy consumption and emissions. The process produces uniform pellets and ensures high performance and quality, with low investment and operating costs as well as decreased energy consumption and emissions.