With the global shift to low-carbon iron and steelmaking technologies, the BHP Centre for Sustainable Steelmaking Research is at the forefront of innovation in low-carbon cokemaking, modified blast furnace and alternative iron and steelmaking processes. Importantly, we focus on optimising the use of Australian iron ore and metallurgical coal in these processes, through research into the sintering, cokemaking and direct reduced iron processes. The Centre is dedicated to providing technical support for the Australian iron and coal industry to supply fit-for-market products and support the transition to a more sustainable position in the global marketplace.

Over the past fifteen years the University of Newcastle, through NIER, and BHP have worked in partnership to progress the Centre’s strategic activities, focused on defining the link between fundamental iron ore and metallurgical coal properties and their performance in conventional ironmaking process. Our research focus has now shifted to the challenge of production of near zero emission steel.