On the occasion of International Environment Day, Jindal Shadeed Iron and Steel (JSIS), the largest privately-owned integrated steel producer in the GCC region, revealed its series of revolutionary initiatives aimed at significantly curbing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. These initiatives exemplify JSIS's unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and the pursuit of clean and eco-friendly business practices, reports Times of Oman
Approximately 71% of global steel production emits an average of 2.32 metric tons of CO₂ for every tonne of steel produced through the Blast Furnace (BF) - Basic Oxygen Furnace (BOF) route. JSIS belongs to the 7% of primary steel producers worldwide (excluding scrap and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) users) employing the DRI - EAF route with non-scrap based steel production, which results in 30% lower CO₂ emissions compared to the BF-BOF route. By adopting this steel-making process, JSIS achieves emissions of 1.57 metrc tons of CO₂ per tonne of steel, leading to an annual saving of 1.68 million metric tons of CO₂ compared to the BF-BOF route.
Moreover, DRI technology positions JSIS for the future, enabling the transition to green steel production by utilizing green hydrogen as the reducing agent.
One of the key initiatives entails the establishment of a Carbon Capture Unit (CCU) pilot plant. JSIS is collaborating with a renowned US company to set up a pilot plant capable of capturing 7.5 metric tons of CO₂ per day from flue gas. The successful implementation of the pilot plant will pave the way for a commercial-scale CO2 capture facility. The captured CO₂ can be utilized in various ways, including conversion into valuable resources like CO or Syngas, liquefaction for transport, Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), or sequestration underground. These initiatives are projected to save 700,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year by 2027 at full commercial scale.
JSIS has also revolutionized its production process with the introduction of the world's first Hot Link technology. This cutting-edge gravity feeding system enables the direct transfer of Hot Direct Reduced Iron (HDRI) into the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), eliminating the need for pneumatic conveying or vessel transport. Through this optimization, JSIS has achieved significant power savings, resulting in an annual reduction of 220,000 metric tons of CO₂ in DRI and Steel Melting Shop (SMS) operations.
Furthermore, JSIS has implemented measures to optimize natural gas (NG) consumption. Through meticulous monitoring and continuous improvement, specific NG consumption has been optimized and utilized efficiently. Various strategies have been employed, including maximizing HDRI production to control consumption, continuous operation of the DR Plant to avoid NG losses, utilizing top gas fuel, and optimizing NG quality. As a result, JSIS has already accomplished an impressive reduction of 18,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year.
JSIS is dedicated to reducing power consumption throughout its operations. At the DRI Plant, strategies such as minimizing HBI production, effective equipment utilization, upgrading illumination fixtures, and installing capacitor banks have yielded substantial power savings. Similarly, at the SMS, increased oxygen injection and the introduction of an EAF swing door have resulted in significant energy savings. JSIS has also focused on electrode-specific consumption, employing advanced techniques such as electrode coating and increased water spray cooling, which have significantly reduced electrode usage. These combined efforts have led to an impressive reduction of 45,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year.
JSIS remains firmly committed to achieving its environmental goals and securing a sustainable future for generations to come. With a total CO₂ saving of 325,000 metric tons per year and a CO₂ intensity of 1.03 metric tons per metric ton of crude steel production (scope 1 and 2), JSIS continues to establish new benchmarks in the iron and steel industry within the region.
