Epiroc partners with SSAB on fossil-free steel for mining equipment
Published by Will Owen,
Editor
Global Mining Review,
Epiroc is starting a partnership with steelmaker SSAB to secure fossil-free steel for use in the production of its mining equipment.
“Sustainability is integrated in everything we do, and we are committed to halving our CO2e emissions by 2030. This exciting partnership with SSAB will support us and our customers on the journey to reach our very ambitious climate goals,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “It is clear that our innovation agenda goes hand-in-hand with our customers’ sustainability agenda.”
SSAB aims to deliver fossil-free steel to the market on a commercial scale during 2026, and delivered the first steel made of hydrogen-reduced iron in 2021. SSAB works with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall as part of the HYBRIT initiative to develop a value chain for fossil-free iron- and steel production, replacing coking coal traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steel production.
Epiroc will initially use fossil-free steel for material for a prototype underground machine produced at its facility in Örebro, Sweden, and the plan is to increase the usage of fossil-free steel over time.
“We are very happy to welcome Epiroc in our partner group and look forward to the fossil-free steel collaboration,” says Martin Lindqvist, SSAB’s President and CEO. “It’s a natural next step in our joint efforts to mitigate climate change. Demand for fossil-free steel is increasing, which is one of the reasons for SSAB to bring forward its green transition with the ambition to largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions around 2030.”
In the shift to a low-carbon economy, development of new technologies like this is crucial for making the transition possible. The partnership with SSAB fits well with Epiroc’s ambitious sustainability goals for 2030 including halving its CO2e emissions.
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/11042022/epiroc-partners-with-ssab-on-fossil-free-steel-for-mining-equipment/
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