Mining company BHP has partnered with Monash University in Australia and steel manufacturer China Baowu to establish an Industry Knowledge Centre to help reduce CO₂ emissions from steel production by accelerating technology deployment.
As a main funding partner, BHP will provide $8m to the Industry Knowledge Centre over a period of three years.
China Baowu will provide in-kind support for the Industry Knowledge Centre’s initial work phase, including the piloting and plant-scale trials of potential CO₂ abatement technology.
Monash University will serve as the administrator through its existing Monash Suzhou Research Institute. It will administer the virtual collaboration of the Industry Knowledge Centre from the campuses in Australia and China.
Proposals and funding to applicants from a network of partner institutes will be reviewed by a management committee comprising representatives from BHP, China Baowu and Monash University.
BHP sales and marketing sustainability vice-president Dr Rod Dukino said: “This is an important addition to our portfolio mix of research and industry partnerships aimed at developing technologies capable of reducing CO₂ emissions from steel production.
“The Industry Knowledge Centre will help link academia and industry partners in China and Australia to share knowledge, develop talent and support the pilot and plant-scale testing of potential technologies for reducing CO₂ emissions from blast furnace steel production.”
The Industry Knowledge Centre will allow real-world testing and assessment of CO₂ reduction technologies to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the blast furnace route for producing steel.
It will also facilitate the assessment of several different potential CO₂ abatement options including process gas recycling, injection of low-carbon hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels, among others.
The latest move follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2020 by BHP and China Baowu.
Monash University pro vice-chancellor and Suzhou president Aibing Yu said: “Monash University is pleased to bridge BHP, a leading global resources company, and China Baowu, the largest steelmaker in the world, to tackle climate change, a global challenge problem.
“The Industry Knowledge Centre will play an important role in promoting the collaboration between academia and industry, and the relationship between Australia and China.”
