Steel producers cooperate to reduce CO2 emissions

Steel producers cooperate to reduce CO2 emissions

A consortium consisting of 48 European companies and organizations inked an agreement to conduct a research and development (R&D) program aimed at developing new steelmaking processes that would emit less carbon-dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. The consortium, called ULCOS (Ultra Low CO2 Steelmaking), is led by a group of steel producers that includes Arcelor, Thyssenkrupp, Voestalpine, Saarstahl, Dilinger Hüttenwerke, RIVA and Ruukki. The agreement calls for a five-year exploratory study and then another five-year pilot study before commercial usage would begin. The main goal of the R&D program will be to reduce CO2 emissions in steelmaking by 30 to 70%.