Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain Tata Steel’s electric arc furnace at its Port Talbot plant received planning permission from the local authorities on February 18 The company would start “large-scale work” at the site this summer Tata Steel UK’s chief executive Rajesh Nair The £1.25 billion (€1.5 billion) investment was the most significant that Tata had made in the UK steel industry “in decades” Nair added The company also received £500 million (€603.4 million) funding from the UK government Tata closed its two Port Talbot blast furnaces in 2024 announcing that they would be replaced with an electric arc furnace as the company shifted to “greener” production methods although Tata Steel insisted that the move had also saved 5,000 UK jobs while on-site carbon dioxide emissions had been reduced by 90 per cent The company also pointed out that it had lost £4 billion (€4.8 billion) since acquiring the Port Talbot steelworks in 2007 and the arc furnace would create a business that was sustainable “both financially and environmentally.” The new installation will include a scrap processing plant as the furnace will function by melting scrap steel with more pure forms added in order to achieve specialist grades Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish Welcome to packagingeurope.com. This site uses cookies. Read our policy At its facility in Limmared, Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe – an operating business of Ardagh Group – is using a hydrogen electrolyzer to produce green hydrogen for melting glass apparently saving 70 tonnes of CO2 since October The 5MW Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) is a hydrogen electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen via renewable electricity it supplies hydrogen to the energy mix and results in a partly hydrogen-fired glass furnace Testing of the electrolyzer began in October it claims to have successfully combusted 109,000m3 of hydrogen produced onsite which apparently translates to 70 tonnes of CO2 saved “The testing phase using the hydrogen energy mix is progressing well with no impact on the quality of the glass or the furnace,” said project manager Daniel Johansson “Our target is to replace 20% of the natural gas in the furnace with green hydrogen which will reduce carbon emissions from our glass packaging produced in Limmared.” CEO Martin Petersson added: “Replacing a proportion of the natural gas with green hydrogen in the furnace represents a step change in the way we sustainably produce glass packaging “The future combination of hydrogen and other sustainable technologies such as hybrid melting will help Ardagh Group and our customers to achieve their emissions reduction targets as well as advancing the decarbonisation of the glass industry.” The move intended to unlock the use of industrial-scale green hydrogen in glass manufacturing with Ardagh Glass foreseeing the production of 2.1 metric tons of green hydrogen every day by the end of 2023 based on an LCA calculation from January to June 2024 it is said to have reduced carbon emissions by 64% The ultimate guide to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation in 2024 How are the top brands progressing on packaging sustainability? Sustainable Innovation Report 2024: Current trends and future priorities Everything you need to know about global plastic sustainability regulation Site powered by Webvision Cloud Tata Steel has appointed Sir Robert McAlpine as main works contractor as part of the company’s £1.25bn investment in low CO2 ‘green’ steelmaking at its Port Talbot steelworks Sir Robert McAlpine will be responsible for managing the main civil structural and building works required for the construction of a new electric arc furnace-based steel production facility that will produce around three million tonnes of steel per year The project will be completed over a three-year construction period with enabling works for the project commencing in Q1 2025 and main civil structural and building works scheduled to start in Q3 2025 said: “We are proud to be part of the decarbonisation of Port Talbot steelworks which will play a pivotal role in turning the Port Talbot site into a world-leading hub for sustainable steel production Our robust relationship with Tata Steel UK and long-standing industrial expertise makes us the ideal partner for this transformation We look forward to working collaboratively as part of a fully Integrated Project team added: “We’re delighted to confirm the appointment of Sir Robert McAlpine to support us on this once-in-a-generation investment project Our new arc furnace will be one of the largest and most sophisticated of its kind in the world so it is important that we work with highly skilled and experienced partners to ensure its success “We have a longstanding and trusted collaborative relationship with Sir Robert McAlpine so are confident they are the right partner for us in the project.” Don’t miss our top stories and need to know news every day in your inbox delivered straight to your inbox – for FREE BE News is the only free-to-air online news service to cover the entire built environment industry its mission is to connect and inform the whole community – spanning commercial property planning and engineering – via one platform WEBSITE DESIGNED & BUILT BY WHITE LABEL Please register (for free) below or login to continue reading Industrial‘Green hydrogen can be burned in our glass-making furnace without impacting quality’But bottle manufacturer Ardagh has also successfully tested electrical heating solutions at its German factory The UK government has committed £500 million to Tata Steel to support the transformation with the company investing in the local supply chain Artist’s impression of Tata Steel’s state-of-the-art Electric Arc Furnace facility being built in Port Talbot TATA STEEL has appointed three South Wales contractors to support its £1.25 billion investment in green steelmaking at Port Talbot The contracts will create over 300 skilled jobs in the local supply chain Bridgend-based Darlow Lloyd & Sons will oversee excavation and drainage work for the transition to Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking including a new scrap yard to process UK-sourced used steel.Wernick Buildings will construct an 8,500-square-metre contractor village with offices and welfare zones Industry minister Sarah Jones said the contracts would bring high-skilled jobs to South Wales and help drive further investment in steelmaking Tata Steel’s Head of Infrastructure & Amenities said the expertise of these contractors would be key to ensuring the project’s success The work will be carried out under the supervision of Sir Robert McAlpine The investment is expected to secure jobs and ensure the long-term sustainability of steelmaking in Wales Vehicles wait in a line before making their way to Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah border crossing INDIA has banned the import of goods originating from or transiting via Pakistan following the killing of 26 tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir The ban was announced by India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade and takes immediate effect “This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy,” the notification said The attack took place last week in the Pahalgam area of Kashmir valley Indian authorities have blamed Pakistan for supporting the terrorists involved in the attack Pakistan has denied any involvement and warned of a possible military response from India Pakistan said it has “credible intelligence” that India intends to launch military action Pakistan has taken retaliatory steps including halting all border trade ALSO READ: India wants Kashmir attackers brought to justice, Jaishankar tells US It also warned that any attempt to block the flow of river water under a decades-old treaty would be seen as an act of war Trade between the two countries had already declined in recent years Pakistan's military said it conducted a training launch of a surface-to-surface missile system “Pakistan today conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System — a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 450 kilometres,” the military said ALSO READ: India and Pakistan’s military strength compared amid Kashmir tensions The statement said the launch aimed to ensure “operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters including the missile's advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features.” Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir led a meeting with top commanders about the “current Pakistan-India standoff” Munir “underscored the critical importance of heightened vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts” ALSO READ: Pakistan says it has credible intelligence of imminent Indian military strike Indian prime minister Narendra Modi said he had given the military “full operational freedom” to respond and vowed to pursue those responsible “to the ends of the Earth” Pakistan has denied it was involved in the attack It has also warned of an imminent air strike from India and said it would respond to any aggression with force ALSO READ: UK and US call for calm as India-Pakistan tensions rise both countries have expelled diplomats and shut border crossings Indian defence sources said the two sides have exchanged gunfire for nine consecutive nights along the Line of Control a Muslim-majority region of about 15 million people is claimed in full by both India and Pakistan and has been the cause of several wars since the partition in 1947 Council president Evangelos Sekeris said the meeting would provide an opportunity for members to express their views and help ease tensions between the two countries THE UN Security Council (UNSC) could meet “sooner rather than later” to discuss the situation between India and Pakistan council president and Greece’s permanent representative to the UN ambassador Evangelos Sekeris said on Thursday He said the meeting would provide an opportunity for members to express their views and help ease tensions between the two countries then...I think this meeting should take place because maybe it's also an opportunity to have views expressed and this might help to diffuse a bit tensions We will see,” Sekeris said in response to a question by PTI ALSO READ: India wants Kashmir attackers brought to justice, Jaishankar tells US It's the first day of our (UNSC) presidency,” he said Sekeris was briefing UN reporters on the council's work programme under Greece's month-long presidency of the 15-nation body He was asked about rising tensions between India and Pakistan and whether there had been any request for a meeting or consultations on the issue In response to a question by PTI on India being a victim of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan “It's an issue which is very pertinent we strongly condemn any act of terrorism and this is what we did” on the “heinous terrorist attack” in Pahalgam in which innocent civilians died “We express our condolences to the government of India we are concerned about this tension which is mounting in the region He said both India and Pakistan are far larger than Greece and added “So the size and volume are of a different nature We also join calls for de-escalation and dialogue so that the situation does not spiral out of control.” external affairs minister S Jaishankar said he had a “good conversation” with Greek foreign minister George Gerapetritis and had “discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack.” He said India welcomed Greece's firm opposition to cross-border terrorism and added “Our strategic partnership reflects the depth of our ties.” Sekeris said Greece has “an excellent bilateral cooperation with India” and mentioned recent visits by leaders from both countries He also said Greece has relations with Pakistan and added we are together in the council and we will cooperate.” evolving.” He said the council had issued a press statement condemning the “heinous terrorist attack” in Jammu and Kashmir and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice we are monitoring closely the situation and will be seized on the matter This is certain that it will happen,” Sekeris said “We express our deepest condolences to the government of India and Nepal and the families of the victims I have to tell you that we are also seriously concerned with the growing bilateral tension in the atmosphere which has been evolving between India and Pakistan.” “We are also joining others who are calling for de-escalation and dialogue so that the situation does not spiral out of control,” he added He said larger member states are in contact with both sides “I'm not in a position to reply directly to your question this is something which might probably happen calling for an extraordinary meeting of the security council is something which can come as a consequence because it's actually the main business of the security council,” he said Pakistan currently sits in the council as a non-permanent member “So they are there,” Sekeris said.He added But we hope really that this situation will de-escalate because it's two very big member states and a lot is at stake and let's hope that those efforts for de-escalation will be helpful To a question on Pakistan not naming The Resistance Front in the press statement on the Pahalgam attack whichever text which is adopted by consensus you cannot comment on the various stages of the negotiation because it's an internal document.” the important thing” is that the press statement was issued one member state which is part of this conflict (Greek) the foreign minister spoke with the foreign minister of India We are also in constant contact with Pakistan.” but we are very receptive to any request and if meeting of security council will take place in any form we will steer the debate as president in a way to be faithful to our mandate but we really hope that maybe de-escalation would be possible,” Sekeris said UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has spoken to external affairs minister Jaishankar and Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and offered his good offices In response to a question on whether the secretary-general would travel to the region to mediate “I don't think there would be any travel until there's a clear message that as in any instance where we have high tensions between two countries that they've both accepted his good offices.” Nigel Farage reacts as Reform UK wins the Runcorn and Helsby by-election NIGEL FARAGE’s Reform UK party has won a fifth parliamentary seat and its first mayoral post along with multiple local council positions in early results from Thursday’s elections across England The results indicate growing support for the party and potential challenges for both Labour and the Conservatives In the parliamentary contest for Runcorn and Helsby Reform won by just six votes after a full recount Labour had won the seat in last year’s national election with a majority of nearly 15,000 “It’s been a huge night for Reform,” Farage told reporters their vote has collapsed and much of it has come to us.” Reform also won the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race a former Conservative minister who joined Reform after losing her seat last year She now holds responsibility for an area with about one million people making her the party’s most senior elected official Voters cast ballots on Thursday for more than 1,600 local authority seats in England and six high-profile mayoral elections The parliamentary seat of Runcorn and Helsby became vacant after a Labour MP resigned following a conviction for assaulting a constituent It had been Labour’s 49th safest seat in the 2023 general election Keir Starmer won a large majority in last year’s general election but his government has since seen a drop in popularity Starmer has faced criticism over tax increases “Reform UK look like the real deal this morning,” said Keiran Pedley they will need to show they can deliver the change their voters want.” A Labour spokesperson said voters “clearly expect the government to move faster” to bring change after 14 years of Conservative rule Jenkyns said asylum seekers should be held in tents rather than hotels and called for an end to “soft touch Britain.” “The rebuilding begins here … we’re going to have a Britain where we put British people first,” she said Reform also made strong showings in mayoral races in North Tyneside Labour’s support dropped by 23 percentage points and in Doncaster by 11 percentage points compared to 2021 Labour’s Ros Jones won in Doncaster but said her party was being punished for efforts to reduce spending “I would say no,” she said when asked if Starmer’s government was listening Reform was leading in the total number of councillors elected has seen a rise in national opinion polls in recent months Reform hopes Friday’s results will help build its local presence and position it as a key challenger to Labour and the Conservatives in the next national election Activists of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal the labour wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) take part in Labour Day rally in Dhaka on May 1 THREE days of political rallies began in Dhaka on Thursday with rival political groups holding mass demonstrations to mobilise support ahead of national elections has been leading the interim government since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country in August after protesters stormed her palace Yunus has said that elections could take place as early as December seen as a leading contender in the upcoming polls is organising a May Day rally in the capital "We are confident this will be the most memorable grand rally in recent times," BNP media officer Shairul Kabir Khan said is also holding a rally in Dhaka on Thursday previously aligned with Hasina's government will organise a public event as well — its first outdoor rally since its offices were damaged in October The attack was allegedly in response to its support for Hasina's Awami League formed by students who led last year's protests that ousted Hasina will hold a rally.NCP leader Nahid Islam initially joined Yunus’s interim government but later resigned and formed the new party "Political programmes help us build public engagement," said senior NCP official Ariful Islam Adib "This rally isn't about showing strength but we expect 20,000 to 30,000 attendees." will hold what it calls a "grand rally." "Our rally is a reminder to the government of the sacrifices we've made," said its leader Mamunul Haque He added that the event would also be used to present key demands Chief among them is scrapping the recommendations of the Women's Rights Commission," Haque said "We don't care if it's Muhammad Yunus in charge or someone even more prominent we'll take to the streets," he added Sheikh Hasina’s government was accused of widespread human rights violations during her 15 years in power and had taken a hard stance against Islamist movements She is currently in self-imposed exile in India and has ignored an arrest warrant issued by Dhaka over charges of crimes against humanity which opposition parties boycotted following a government crackdown It is still unclear whether Hasina’s Awami League will participate in the upcoming elections Muhammad Yunus has said that the caretaker administration's role is to carry out democratic reforms before holding a fresh vote will depend on the level of consensus among political parties then we have the early election in December," Yunus told broadcaster Al Jazeera on Sunday FILE PHOTO: Keir Starmer (L) and Narendra Modi talk during a bilateral meeting in the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro (Photo by STEFAN ROUSSEAU/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) THE UK and India are in the final stages of negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) that could be Britain's most significant trade deal since leaving the European Union in 2020 Indian commerce minister Piyush Goyal met UK officials in London this week with reports suggesting that most issues have now been resolved after intensive negotiations "The final yards are always the hardest but it's moving at breakneck pace," one person close to the discussions told the Financial Times Goyal informed business leaders that "25 of 26 matters have been agreed" in the negotiations though UK government sources cautioned that "the last bits are always the trickiest." The most difficult area yet to be resolved is India's request to be exempted from the UK's planned "carbon border tax" set to begin in 2027 which would add costs to Indian exports such as steel "We need some clarification on your carbon border tax on steel and cement because steel and cement will be important for us to sell you," said Shashi Tharoor chair of the Indian parliament's committee on external affairs Another contentious issue involves whether Indian employees transferred to the UK should be exempt from national insurance contributions to avoid "double taxation." what we're really looking for is something that you have with other countries which allows people who are already paying to their pension pots back home in India [to] be exempted for the period of their stay here," India's top diplomat in London India has apparently accepted that Britain will offer only minor changes to its visa regime with new rules expected to lead to around 100 additional visas for Indian workers yearly according to a UK official who spoke to Politico This represents a significant compromise from India's opening position which had proposed larger quotas for professionals particularly in sectors like IT and healthcare The negotiations have gained fresh urgency following US president Donald Trump's imposition of new tariffs Trump has threatened a 26 per cent "reciprocal" tariff on Indian goods while the UK already faces a 10 per cent levy on its exports to America getting a UK-India deal has gone up the scale in terms of political priorities," Tharoor said "We all need buffers against the global trade uncertainties that have suddenly shot up in people's consciousness." India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman rejected suggestions that India was rushing a UK deal because of US actions "It is not as if we're rushing into a UK (free trade agreement) because something is done by Trump in the US." The trade talks have been in progress for more than three years having first begun in January 2022 under then-prime minister Boris Johnson Negotiations were paused in March last year ahead of elections in both countries before being relaunched in February 2025 the world's fifth and sixth-largest economies respectively reached £41 billion ($54bn) in the 12 months to September 2024 A No 10 spokesman said negotiations were "constructive and productive" but added: "We've been clear that we will only sign a deal in our best interest." sources suggest a formal agreement might be saved for a future meeting between prime ministers Keir Starmer and Narendra Modi in the coming months The company hopes to revive its prospects through two new joint ventures with ArcelorMittal as it suffers from weak demand and oversupply in China’s steel industry heavily polluting steel mills are hardly the first thing that comes to mind But privately owned steel maker China Oriental Group Co (0581.HK) wants to change that perception with its new move into environmentally friendly products Last Wednesday, the company, which makes steel beams and strips widely used in construction and construction machinery, announced its formation of two joint ventures with ArcelorMittal (MT.US) The ventures will produce items that can be used in manufacturing goods from electric vehicles (EVs) to green power facilities China Oriental called the foray a “high-tech and digital” endeavor to expand into higher-end products that align with China’s carbon neutrality efforts and the thriving EV market One of the joint ventures will produce materials that the other will use to make NEMM products a soft magnetic material that can be used in manufacturing sectors ranging from automobiles to power generation The two ventures will require $2.66 billion in investment including $660 million for the upstream venture and $2 billion for the downstream one China Oriental added that both joint ventures have received support from local governments in Tangshan investors were less impressed with the company’s environmentally friendly turn over the two trading days after the announcement The shares have fallen by 9% since the beginning of this year defying a 21% rise for Hong Kong’s benchmark Hang Seng Index The company’s sluggish shares reflect the struggles faced by the wider Chinese steel sector which is getting squeezed by a property downturn that is dampening demand for their products used in construction and construction machinery The resulting excess supply is forcing steelmakers to cut prices even as China’s decarbonization efforts raise their manufacturing costs such as Baoshan Iron & Steel (600019.SS) and Angang Steel (000898.SZ; 0347.HK) which provide a wide range of products and have been expanding overseas China Oriental focuses on lower-end products sold domestically That’s causing it to take a harder hit than those state-run peers which also have far greater resources due to their close government ties China’s EV and solar power markets that the new joint ventures will target as future customers are also facing challenges from overproduction to protective tariffs from other countries perhaps explaining the tepid investor reaction to the announcement China Oriental began as a small state-owned steel factory in North China’s Hebei province in the 1980s under the leadership of the plant manager Han Jingyuan in the early 2000s as part of reforms that consolidated larger steel mills and transferred smaller ones to private ownership specializing in H-section steel products widely used in building structures and machinery Close to both iron ore supplies and steel customers the company claimed to be one of the most efficiently run steel producers in China according to its prospectus at the time of its Hong Kong IPO in 2004 ArcelorMittal entered the picture three years later after India’s Mittal merged with Arcelor to become the world’s largest steelmaker in 2006 The newly forged Indian giant had been eyeing the Chinese steel market for years setting up its first sales offices in the country as early as the 1990s Chinese restrictions on foreign shareholding of major state-owned steelmakers meant that Mittal could only acquire shares of smaller ones the newly created ArcelorMittal acquired 28% of China Oriental said at the time: “We have made no secret of our wish to participate more actively in China’s fast growing steel market and the agreements we have signed are a major step forward in delivering that strategy.” ArcelorMittal gradually increased its holdings in China Oriental But that caused China Oriental’s public float to drop below the minimum 25% violating the Hong Kong Stock Exchange’s listing rules As a result the stock was suspended for three years until February 2017 and trading only resumed after China Oriental issued new shares to bring the public float back to 25% ArcelorMittal today remains China Oriental’s largest shareholder while Han Jingyuan is the second-largest shareholder ArcelorMittal was the world’s largest steel producer until 2021 when it was overtaken by China Baowu Steel a Chinese company formed through a state-orchestrated merger of more than a dozen Chinese steel makers the company said that China’s excess production relative to demand is resulting in very low domestic steel spreads and aggressive exports Chinese steel makers are experiencing their lowest profitability in nearly a decade with average net profit margin of Chinese steelmakers at only 0.5% in the first half of this year according to the 21st Century Business Herald China’s steel exports reached 10.15 million tons in September alone according to the latest Chinese customs data Total export volume for the year is expected to exceed 100 million tons China Oriental’s revenue totaled 22.57 billion yuan ($3.18 billion) in the first half of this year the company fell into the red last year with a loss of 160 million yuan for 2023 It returned to the black in the first half of this year though its 123 million yuan profit was down 55.4% year-on-year as prices remained depressed for its finished steel products China Oriental announced it wouldn’t distribute any interim dividend this year Baoshan Iron & Steel fared even worse on its top line recording a 4.1% revenue decline in the first half of the year as it offset the weakness at home through exports It disclosed that its gross margin in overseas markets last year reached 10.2% nearly five percentage points higher than that of the domestic market China Oriental probably lacks the resources to export its products it hopes its major foray into environmentally friendly products will put it on a steadier footing by producing for EV and green power producers with better longer-term prospects To subscribe to Bamboo Works free weekly newsletter, click here China stock insights and analysis for global investors: Bamboo Works unlocks investment opportunities in Chinese companies listed in the U.S The deal has been described as a key milestone on the road to reducing carbon emissions by 90 per cent a year once the plant is commissioned from the end of 2027 Tata Steel is the largest steelmaker in the UK with primary steelmaking at Port Talbot supporting manufacturing and distribution operations at sites across Wales England and Northern Ireland as well as Norway Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani speaks about his vision for India's media and entertainment industry to reach £80 billion by 2035 is now being seen as a serious engine for economic growth and not just culture Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani painted a clear picture: what is today a £22 billion (£1.83 lakh crore) industry could cross £80 billion (£6.67 lakh crore) in the next decade But he says this growth will not happen on its own Ambani is not talking about small steps He envisions India building advanced content hubs across the country supporting creators with world-class training in animation and bring global attention to Indian content He also emphasised that regulation should not be restrictive the industry needs policies that encourage experimentation Indian storytelling is not just culturally important He believes no other nation can compete with the depth lies in how it has combined its storytelling roots with modern technology AI and immersive tools are already helping creators leap across language and geography Ambani believes India’s next generation of creators can produce blockbusters for global audiences which brings together media professionals from nearly 90 countries Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the event calling it a turning point for India's creative economy saying this was “New India” in action: fast-moving and ready to raise the bar worldwide India’s entertainment industry may soon become one of its biggest exports powered not just by revenue but by storytelling that resonates far beyond its borders FILE PHOTO: Air India aircrafts are seen parked at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) AIR INDIA expects to face around $600 million (£480m) in additional costs if a ban from Pakistan's airspace lasts for a year and has asked the federal government to compensate it for the hit Indian airlines are bracing for higher fuel costs and longer journey times after Pakistan shut its airspace to the country's carriers in a tit-for-tat retaliation following an attack on tourists in Kashmir last week Air India on April 27 asked the Indian government for a "subsidy model" proportionate to the economic hit estimating a loss of more than $591m (£473m) for each year the ban lasts according to a letter sent by the airline to the Civil Aviation ministry "Subsidy for affected international flights is a good the subsidy can be removed when the situation improves," the letter said "The impact on Air India is maximum due to airspace closure due to additional fuel burn...additional crew." India's Civil Aviation ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment Air India's letter was sent after the government asked its executives to assess the impact of the airspace ban on Indian carriers said a source with direct knowledge of the matter The Tata Group-owned airline is in the midst of a multi-billion dollar turnaround after a period of government ownership and growth is already constrained by jet delivery delays from Boeing and Airbus It reported a net loss of £416m in fiscal 2023-2024 which has a 26.5 per cent market share in India It operates many more long-haul routes than bigger domestic rival IndiGo Air India and its budget unit Air India Express had roughly 1,200 flights combined from New Delhi scheduled for Europe the Middle East and North America in April The Indian government is considering options to reduce the hit to the airline industry from the closure of Pakistan's airspace three other people familiar with the matter said One of the sources said Indian carriers met with the Civil Aviation ministry to work on possible solutions including flying over difficult terrain closer to China Air India asked the government to liaise with Chinese authorities for certain overflight clearances It also asked the government to approve the carrying of extra pilots on flights on the United States and Canada to account for longer travel times ArcelorMittal posted a net profit of £605 million for the first quarter STEELMAKER ArcelorMittal on Wednesday said ongoing uncertainty around global tariffs could lead to further economic disruption even as its global presence helped it remain steady in the first quarter The company said the US administration’s 25 per cent tariffs on aluminium and steel imports along with broader trade measures that are still under negotiation may affect global growth as both businesses and consumers delay purchases “Heightened uncertainty around the terms of global trade is hurting business confidence and risks causing further economic disruption if not quickly resolved,” said ArcelorMittal chief executive Aditya Mittal this marked a 14 per cent drop compared to the same period last year The company had reported a net loss of £293 million in the final quarter of last year Mittal described it as a “quarter of consistent delivery and robust margins particularly given the geopolitical challenges” governments are committed to supporting their domestic manufacturing industries.” He said US tariffs “are supporting higher prices and spreads” and urged the European Union to implement agreed measures to support the region’s steel manufacturers chief financial officer Genuino Christino said “It’s clear there’s now a good understanding in Europe of the challenges the steel industry faces.” He welcomed Germany’s investment plan worth billions of pounds to “support demand” Asked whether ArcelorMittal might eventually exit Europe due to higher production costs compared to India or Latin America Christino said it was too “early” to consider the issue The company confirmed it would invest £3.4 to £3.8 billion in efforts to decarbonise its steel production it suspended a €1.8 billion (£1.5 billion) decarbonisation investment in France at the end of last year It is also shifting some support jobs from Europe to India as part of a cost-saving plan ArcelorMittal announced that about 600 jobs would be cut across seven sites in France The company confirmed its base dividend and its policy to return at least 50 per cent of post-dividend annual free cash flow to shareholders It also recently announced additional share buybacks ArcelorMittal shares closed down 1.7 per cent on Wednesday while the Amsterdam all-share index rose 0.4 per cent The AI-generated video series will be available exclusively on BBC Maestro Aspiring crime writers now have the opportunity to be taught by Agatha Christie herself A new online writing course on the subscription platform BBC Maestro features lessons “delivered” by Christie using a combination of artificial intelligence The AI-powered course was developed by BBC Studios in collaboration with the Agatha Christie estate The project aims to present writing advice directly drawn from Christie’s own interviews The end result is a reconstructed version of the author offering guidance on how to craft mystery stories The course was curated by a group of Christie scholars: Dr Mark Aldridge “We meticulously pieced together Agatha Christie’s own words from her letters Witnessing her insights come to life has been a profoundly moving experience.” actor Vivien Keene worked closely with visual effects specialists She studied rare footage of Christie in order to capture her mannerisms and expressions noting that it was unlike any other role she had undertaken in her 44-year acting career The audio in the videos was created using restored voice recordings and AI-enhanced technology Although the end product appears to feature Christie’s voice and likeness clarified that the course content was compiled and written by experts “This was not written by AI,” Prichard said “It is a leading academic unearthing everything that she said about writing And I believe that what we are delivering here in terms of her message is better presented and will reach more people as a result of being presented He acknowledged ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI in creative industries but said he believed the project had used the technology in an ethical and helpful way “I’d be lying if I said there weren’t worries,” he told The Telegraph “but the AI model of Agatha doesn’t work without the performance of Vivien Keene.” wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections Her work has sold more than two billion copies worldwide and her stories have inspired numerous film and television adaptations which offers a range of expert-led video courses in various disciplines Narendra Modi with Donald Trump at the Oval Office during his February visit NEW DELHI is prepared to include a sweetener in trade talks with Washington that would “future-proof” a deal by ensuring no other trade partners could have superior terms as it pushes for a quick agreement with the administration of US president Donald Trump rarely granted by India in previous trade negotiations would automatically apply to the US as any more-favourable tariff arrangements that might be agreed with other countries two officials with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters future-proofs the US deal and is the only way to do so,” one of the officials said The officials declined to be identified because of the private and sensitive nature of the negotiations did not respond to an e-mailed request for comment New Delhi has already made a number of offers and pre-emptive concessions to the US on trade showing itself more eager than several other big US trading partners including China US treasury secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday (28) that India could be one of the first to sign a trade deal with the US Statements from the Trump administration have said the two sides already agreed on a roadmap for trade discussions India would be keen to avoid or at least lighten Trump’s proposed 26 per cent reciprocal tariff and other restrictions on India founder of Global Trade Research Initiative Trump’s team has said it wants to sign deals with India and other trading partners before a 90-day pause on the proposed reciprocal tariffs lapses in July although some analysts and former officials say it will face steep challenges India is willing to offer the US a significantly better deal than what it may offer to Britain or the European Union said the second government official familiar with trade discussions need assurances that it could become a major supplier to the US market in areas vacated by the Chinese In talks earlier this year on an India-EU free trade agreement the EU made a request for forward most-favoured nation status similar to what is now planned for the US but New Delhi has not yet committed one way or the other a third government official aware of the talks said India has rarely offered such status in previous negotiations India offered a narrowly construed version for Australian wines under the India-Australia bilateral trade agreement concluded in 2022 the Indian government has shown it is willing to offer more and to include politically sensitive sectors such as agriculture India said its chief negotiator last week met US trade officials in Washington and made progress towards the first tranche of an agreement Out of 24 categories of goods traded between the two countries 19 have been selected for fast-track discussions mainly contentious farm products such as soybeans and corn could be discussed in a second phase of talks India has proposed reducing duties to zero per cent to five per cent on US frozen meat and a variety of agricultural products Those products are currently assessed at 30 per cent to 100 per cent “India is in a position to offer tariff concessions on nearly 90 per cent of tariff lines immediately out of about 12,000 tariff lines,” said the official “Tariff concessions on remaining items could be offered in a phased manner,” he said New Delhi has asked for favourable tariff treatment for labour-intensive sectors such as textiles New Delhi has also sought a long-term commitment from Washington on preferential treatment for pharmaceuticals and engineering goods such as industrial equipment and components aiming to become a trusted partner in the supply chains of major US companies as part of the SUSTAIN Hub (Strategic University Steel Technology and Innovation Network) She is member of the Institute of Materials Swansea University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK View all partners This method of steelmaking can use up to 100% scrap steel as its raw material resulting in a significant reduction in carbon emissions Steel is an incredible material and for good reason. It’s the world’s most commonly used metal because it’s strong, durable and recyclable, making it the perfect material for everything from skyscrapers to electric vehicles and solar panels. More than 1.8 billion tonnes of crude steel were produced globally last year That number is only expected to grow as the world transitions to a more sustainable future The UK uses around 12 million tonnes of steel each year. And in 2022, it produced just under 6 million tonnes, contributing to around 2.4% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions There are two main steel production methods Port Talbot and Scunthorpe use the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace method The purpose of the blast furnace is to separate iron ore extracted from the ground into its component parts: iron and oxygen The outputs of this process are iron and carbon dioxide The basic oxygen furnace is then used to convert the iron into steel As a global average, this method of steelmaking emits around 2.32 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of steel produced An electric arc furnace works by generating a high-temperature arc between graphite electrodes This arc is then used to melt metal inside a chamber Using this method, up to 100% scrap steel can be used as the raw material, while the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace method can only use a maximum of 30% scrap A switch to the electric arc furnace method could reduce emissions to 0.67 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of steel produced when using 100% scrap steel it is also possible the electricity needed for electric arc furnace processes could come from 100% renewable sources whereas a form of carbon will always be needed to reduce iron ore when using the blast furnace method Steel is the most recycled material in the world, and so scrap steel is quickly becoming a crucial raw material. In 2021, the global steel industry recycled around 680 million tonnes of scrap steel. This equates to savings of almost 1 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions In 2021, more than 8.2 million tonnes of steel scrap was exported from the UK using this material domestically could provide both environmental and economic value by helping to meet growing national demand for steel We know that steel produced with an electric arc furnace can have different properties to blast furnace produced material. A large factor in this is the quality of scrap steel used in the electric arc furnace – if the scrap steel quality is low innovation and skills development to ensure this transition to lower-carbon steelmaking methods is successful Finding and sorting the right types of scrap material confirming material properties and increasing supply chain understanding of electric arc furnace steelmaking are all necessary for a wide range of steel products to continue to be made in the UK There is a race across Europe to secure investment for sustainable steelmaking technologies. Hybrit is a fossil-free steel project in Sweden between several major steel producers and is already underway This follows plans to invest almost €40 billion (almost £35 billion) in low-emission steelmaking technologies over the next 20 years. Also in Sweden, the company H2 Green Steel has secured €3.5 billion (£3 billion) to build a hydrogen-powered steel plant In July 2023, the German government announced €2 billion (£1.7 billion) of support for Thyssenkrupp And that was on top of the €3 billion (£2.6 billion) it had previously announced to support the country’s industrial green transition ArcelorMittal, the second largest steel producer in the world, has also announced green investment in their plants in Belgium and Spain totalling more than €1.2 billion (£1.5 billion) While the UK government has no published industrial strategy other organisations have produced roadmaps for decarbonised steelmaking in the UK A report by the Energy Transitions Commission a global coalition of energy leaders committed to net-zero emissions outlined plans for investing in low-emission steelmaking in early 2023 With the right level of government and private sector investment the UK could become a world leader in green steelmaking – but only it acts now As global temperatures continue to rise and the climate emergency deepens the need for a decarbonised steel industry is greater than ever Lower carbon methods of steel production are the future of the industry both in the UK and around the world Sign-in to our platforms to access our extensive research data and analytics and to connect to our industry experts high-grade iron ores and current steel production routes Daniel brings over 18 years of experience as a global operations Steelmaking's transition to more sustainable processes will be crucial to driving down global emissions current commercially viable technologies may require significant technological advancements if steelmaking is to play its part in meeting net-zero targets We recently presented a webinar on “What’s next for green steel technologies?” Fill in the form at the top of the page to download the slides from our presentation The blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) process currently dominates steelmaking mainly because it is low cost and can flexibly accept a range of iron ore qualities presenting a challenge for the industry as it aims to take its place in a low-carbon future Electric arc furnace (EAF) technology produces far less emissions; as a result it is growing rapidly in popularity and is predicted to reach near-parity with BF-BOF production by 2050 Making steel using the EAF process utilises scrap material as the primary metallic feedstock can reduce emissions by 75-80% compared to conventional BF-BOFs EAFs do not directly utilize iron ore inputs are increasingly competing for a limited global pool of scrap and require high-quality iron ore inputs for ore-based metallics like DRI Reducing emissions in the steel value chain is therefore likely to require a multi-technology approach which incorporates steelmaking routes beyond existing electric arc furnace production processes Combining green hydrogen with direct reduced iron (DRI) stands out as a preferred route to low-carbon steelmaking for many Using green hydrogen instead of natural gas or coal to produce DRI as the metallic feedstock eliminates the sources of carbon from the steelmaking process and is the route closest to carbon neutrality DRI’s share in the metallic mix is projected to more than double by 2050 The current DRI landscape is predominantly gas-based (80%) with the remainder coal-based facilities largely concentrated in India and China Any shift towards green hydrogen as a feedstock for DRI production is likely to be a gradual evolution with natural gas bridging the gap to a green hydrogen future The electric smelting furnace-basic oxygen furnace (ESF-BOF) process is another potential solution that could bridge the gap between existing EAF and BF-BOF technologies The initial ESF process utilises electricity but unlike the EAF process it can accept DRI produced with low and medium-grade iron ores as a feedstock ESF-produced liquid hot metal can then be processed into steel in a traditional basic oxygen furnace ESF-BOF can potentially be rolled out at BF-BOF facilities using existing BOF footprints helping to reduce blast furnace use and cut emissions while reducing capex ESF technology offers steelmakers greater flexibility They can either use their own DRI or trade all ranges of DRI products based on their value-in-use (VIU) analysis; in contrast DRI-EAF producers are technically limited to high-grade iron ore products The cost competitiveness of different steelmaking processes will remain an important factor and may ultimately depend on how carbon pricing structures evolve traditional BF-BOF is likely to remain the lowest-cost route for steel production across most global regions DRI-ESF-BOF could reach near cost parity with traditional DRI-EAF over the long-term; in some cases depending on regional dynamics and whether the fuel feedstock used is natural gas or hydrogen Hydrogen DRI costs 30% more than gas DRI and is even more expensive compared to coal DRI units in India Economic measures and industrial ramp-ups should narrow this cost gap by 2050 but significant green incentives and stringent carbon tax policies will be essential for further cost mitigation We foresee seven potential hubs for DRI-based steel production by 2050 Each will have a distinct technological mix and development timeline Australia and Europe are likely to lead DRI capacity additions We expect India to shift from coal to gas-based DRI only gradually limiting its potential contribution to green steel production Decarbonising the global steel industry is complex and will require technological innovation policy support – including robust carbon taxation and alluring green incentives – and significant investment The rollout of green steel will be dependent on multiple factors and the legacy of existing steel frameworks The challenges are substantial and must not be ignored; they include limited DR-grade iron ore supply hurdles to electrification and hydrogen production scalability and the overarching high costs of greening the potential reward is significant: a cleaner Don’t forget to fill out the form at the top of the page to download the presentation slides from our recent webinar - 'What's next for green steel technologies?' - in which we explored the technical factors challenges and competitive landscape for key green steelmaking technologies in more depth To find out what's next for steel in the near term, you can also read our 2024 outlook for steel, as well as our other metals and mining predictions for 2024. Can Green Steel Technology Be Developed For Real.pdf Can green steel technology be developed for real Owner says shutting Welsh blast furnaces will cut emissions The owner of the Port Talbot steelworks has been accused of “gross hypocrisy” as it prepares to open a new blast furnace in India, while citing a cut in carbon emissions for its decision to close two blast furnaces in south Wales Tata announced last week that up to 2,800 jobs would be cut under plans to close Port Talbot’s two huge blast furnaces and replace them with an electric arc furnace However, union bosses told the Guardian the decision was at odds with a project to build a huge new blast furnace at Tata’s Kalinganagar industrial complex in eastern India The job cuts have inflamed tensions between unions and the government, which steelworkers argue should have offered greater financial aid to the company to support domestic manufacturing. On Tuesday, workers gathered outside Westminster to protest against the decision while Labour vowed to force a vote on the future of the British steel industry In announcing the redundancies last week, the company said that the overhaul would “secure most of Tata Steel UK’s existing product capability and maintain the country’s self-sufficiency in steelmaking while also reducing Tata Steel UK’s CO2 emissions by 5 million tonnes per year and overall UK country emissions by about 1.5%” the project at Kalinganagar could increase the company’s overall global emissions It will be among the largest blast furnaces in the world Unions argue that building a new blast furnace while claiming an emissions cut in Wales represents double standards The Indian site already houses a vast blast furnace, with a capacity of 4,330 cubic metres, which the company has lauded as the “backbone of steelmaking” at the plant The Unite general secretary said: “Tata’s actions in India expose the myth that its plan to close the blast furnaces in Port Talbot is due to concerns about climate change Tata is simply seeking to boost its global profits “That’s why much-needed public investment in green steel should come with job guarantees and a plan for growth.” The Welsh job cuts have been more than a decade in the making as Britain’s steel industry has struggled to compete with cheaper Chinese imports and European rivals with lower energy costs Long-running negotiations over government subsidies eventually resulted in Tata announcing a £1.25bn investment which uses electricity to melt scrap metal rather than burning coal and iron ore But that will be far less labour intensive resulting in 2,500 jobs being cut at Port Talbot and another 300 at another south Wales site Semi-finished steel slabs will be imported from sites in India and the Netherlands before the EAF is operational in 2027 said: “This gross hypocrisy is exactly what GMB has been talking about – Tata’s plan is centred on importing steel from their plants in India and IJmuiden while the electric arc furnace is built – and beyond “This transition being ‘green’ is a false flag allowing foreign entities to profit off the back of GMB members and their communities.” India has been far less proactive than Europe in tackling company emissions and its steel industry is reliant on coal Free daily newsletterGet set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning Britain’s more stringent approach to tackling emissions and the country’s abundance of scrap steel to feed EAFs have set the two countries’ industries apart The site has also been trialling carbon capture technology and the new blast furnace will have its own gas cleaning plant and a “robust dust extraction system” Tata has expanded Kalinganagar – a new town built up in the face of local tribal resistance and taking advantage of iron ore reserves in Tomka – to become one of the most important assets in its global portfolio In the early 2000s, a government agency began buying land from the public and courting international steel companies to open operations in coastal Odisha. The site, sandwiched between the crocodile-filled waters of the Bhitarkanika national park and the Tomka iron ore mountain, is one of four huge Tata steelworks in India (including its powerhouse Jamshedpur site) Tata faced opposition from local villagers intent on receiving compensation and rehousing in return for their ancestral lands The situation came to a head in January 2006 when police opened fire on a group of tribal people protesting against the construction of a boundary wall of the plant on land grazed by cattle with 13 Adivasi people and a policeman killed A Tata Steel spokesperson said: “We understand how difficult this decision is for our workers and our steel communities .. We believe that scrap-based steelmaking is the right solution for our business in the UK – a country which is currently the second largest exporter of used steel in the world and one in which renewable energy is developing quickly.” The dates displayed for an article provide information on when various publication milestones were reached at the journal that has published the article activities on preceding journals at which the article was previously under consideration are not shown (for instance submission a series of researches had been conducted to prepare LDHs using blast furnace slag as precursor material to applicate into various aspects Authors previous study [28] proposed a novel method to collaboratively produce zeolite and LDHs The leaching properties of BFS were investigated by thermodynamic and kinetic analyses All content on this site: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. Journal of Cleaner ProductionCitation Excerpt :This will not only fulfill the increasing demand of concrete but will also minimize the imminent environmental risk industrial wastes such as fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) have been successfully utilized as supplementary cementitious materials as partial replacement of cement to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with its production and utilization in concrete (Y It is reported that fly ash and GGBS can reduce up to 80% of GHG emissions of normal concrete (Huynh et al. This article provides an overview of the roadmap and challenges of two promising process route alternatives for the green steel transformation of blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) plants Since these integrated steel plants are characterised by CO2 emissions nearly three times higher than mini mills—mainly driven by the blast furnace and coking plant—this study reviews and benchmarks technology alternatives for BF-BOF plants from a refractory point of view examples and first research investigation results are discussed to highlight the readiness of RHI Magnesita for the green steel transformation the iron and steel industry is the second largest global industrial CO2 emitter mainly driven by blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) plants that represent 70% of worldwide steel production [1] BF-BOF plants are under increasing pressure to decarbonise their production facilities Two main paths for process route alternatives are currently under evaluation: The first comprises a direct reduction (DR) unit which is industrially proven with the current dominant use of natural gas and planned to be gradually shifted to hydrogen combined with a continuous electric smelting furnace (ESF) followed by the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) process The second approach is complete transformation to an electric arc furnace (EAF) plant based on direct reduced iron (DRI) both steelmaking technologies encounter their own challenges in terms of process and refractory solutions: The ESF technology is fully proven for the nonferrous industry but for the steel industry a balanced refractory design and an appropriately sized unit is not yet available the EAF is well-established for steelmaking but for tapping weights exceeding 250 tonnes additional measures are required to improve process efficiency [2] there are two main approaches for raising the CO2 abatement potential of steelmaking currently being discussed and evaluated: On the one hand a DR unit combined with an ESF and continuing with the BOF process a complete transformation to an EAF mill mainly based on DRI This section of the article discusses the differences between scrap-based and DRI-based steelmaking processes in EAF mills and addresses the impact of operating conditions on the EAF working lining Figure 1 shows the typical refractory lining concept used for both DRI- and scrap-based EAFs [2] Furnace areas and refractory products used in DRI- and scrap-charged EAFs [2] There are several differences to be considered when comparing the production characteristics of a conventional scrap charged EAF to an EAF process based on high shares of DRI and/or hot briquetted iron (HBI) These divergences are mainly related to the electrical energy demand Due to the remaining gangue oxides present in the DRI/HBI and varying levels of carbon different power programs and adapted additions of lime and doloma are required for the continuous charging of high amounts of DRI The hot or cold DRI is charged via the fifth hole in the furnace roof hot heel) of a DRI-based EAF is up to 30% of the total melt volume to facilitate DRI melting In contrast to conventional scrap-based furnaces the DRI-EAF process operates under flat bath conditions which results in a lower arc voltage and slightly decreased efficiency of energy transfer to the steel melt The oxide gangue present in the DRI not only decreases the metal yield of DRI charges but also increases the risk of low slag basicity in the case of insufficient compensation of the acid gangue by flux additions high levels of acid gangue content cause a significant increase in the specific amount and volume of process slags compared to the standard operation based on steel scrap which also affects the lifetime of the refractory lining the electrical energy demand rises with a higher input of burned slag formers As a result of these DRI-specific process conditions the melting time as well as the tap-to-tap time of DRI heats can be significantly longer than for standard scrap heats [2] typically higher quality refractory grades and intensified maintenance are applied to DRI-charged furnaces to counteract this higher strain on the refractory lining Figure 2 illustrates the main differences in the working lining design based on the typical magnesia-carbon brick grades in operation [2] DRI-charged EAFs are mainly operated with high- performance grades in all furnace lining areas furnace maintenance such as gunning and fettling is also usually carried out with high-grade materials both for furnace installation and for maintenance are widely and successfully run with standard grades based on significant amounts of circular raw materials This incorporation of circular raw materials leads to a considerable reduction in the CO2 footprint of the individual refractory products and thereby contributes to decreased scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions at the steel plant [2]  MgO-C performance classes used in (a) DRI- and (b) scrap-charged EAFs [3] Specific refractory consumption figures (kg of refractories consumed per tonne of liquid steel produced) and EAF lifetimes of scrap-charged compared to DRI-charged EAFs can vary significantly Typical lifetimes for EAFs are shown below whereby the wide variation within the furnace types is a result of the maintenance philosophy adopted which strongly influences the lifetime [2]: DRI-operated EAFs often show an overall higher consumption of refractory materials and therefore higher specific refractory consumption rates particularly driven by maintenance mixes for gunning and fettling as well as the slag zone working lining A comparison of the consumption figures of full-year averages for all relevant refractory products is shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 [2] Eccentric bottom taphole (EBT) filling mixes used to fill the taphole channel after each heat tapped are excluded from this comparison EBT filling mix consumption ranges from 1–1.5 kg refractory /t liquid steel [2]  Annual average specific refractory consumption figures for a scrap-charged 145-tonne EAF [4]  Annual average specific refractory consumption figures for a DRI-charged 130-tonne EAF [4] Modern EAF technology is based on shallow hearth designs and multiple supersonic oxygen injectors to address the inherent problem of low melt movement With the decreasing oxygen demand of DRI charges efficient melt mixing is even more difficult especially in large volume EAFs that are currently being designed for integrated steel plants By far the most efficient movement of the entire steel melt is generated by inert gas purging (Figure 5) Developed by RHI Magnesita in the early 1980s approximately 9% of EAFs worldwide are now equipped with gas purging systems especially large EAFs with tapping weights above 150 tonnes and an additional 20–35% hot heel refractory solutions and the gas control units have been significantly improved to reach maximum safety and lifetime [2] The gas control units from INTERSTOP are characterised by a leak-free providing very precise and fast gas flow control over a wide range of Ar and N2 flow rates [5] Automatic wear and leakage detection as well as customer- specified programs The process benefits of inert gas purging are directly related to the improved movement and mixing in the entire melt volume The temperature distribution is significantly more homogeneous especially when charge combinations of steel scrap The most important process improvements for DRI charging are [5]:  Improved melt mixing by inert gas purging (RADEX DPP system) in an EAF [2] EAF gas purging system from INTERSTOP with a very compact design [2] The corresponding CAPEX and OPEX of the gas purging system are easily exceeded by the process benefits resulting in a return on investment after only a few EAF campaigns A typical example of the observed process improvements for a 250-tonne EAF (200-tonne tapping weight) Alternative units for melting large volumes of DRI at low conversion costs in integrated steel plants are ESFs They represent a well-established furnace technology in the nonferrous metallurgical industry and will now be adapted to the specific requirements of the steel industry to process low-grade DRI prior to charging it into the BOF [2]  Observed benefits of RADEX DPP gas purging in a 250-tonne DRI-EAF [2] ESF technology is a well-known and long-established electric melting technology in the nonferrous metals industry These melting units can be engineered using two different fundamental designs: The so-called six-in-line EAF Both are widely used today for melting and processing different ferroalloys such as FeNi and FeTiO3 To meet the requirements of these industry sectors and their respective processes the scale of these ESFs is extremely large compared to state-of-the-art steel furnaces The dimensions of a rectangular smelter typically reach 40 m in length while the round units can exceed 20 m in diameter and 6 m in height from a refractory engineering point of view there is a technical limit regarding the size to ensure uniform expansion during the highly demanding heat-up phase [2] The basic question concerning the operation practice is whether the furnace will be operated in open or covered bath mode as this makes a huge difference in terms of radiation and thermal impact on the upper sections of the furnace The roof lining is exposed to much higher thermal loads in combination with chemical impacts when operated in open bath mode which must be taken into consideration when choosing the refractory material to avoid roof lining collapse and prevent the thermal application limit of the refractories being reached [2] The general lining concepts (Figure 7) for such smelters are mainly based on high-fired high-purity magnesia bricks in the case of ferroalloys or magnesia chrome bricks for PGM always considering the specified thermal profile of the hearth mostly supported by bottom forced air-cooling technology depending on the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) involved different well-established cooling systems are applied these different cooling systems require specific refractory solutions That is why the given cooling design has always been the starting point for RHI Magnesita to provide the most suitable refractories in terms of both thermal as well as dimensional aspects as this is also important to ensure safe furnace operation for the end user [2] Depending on whether the operation mode is an open or covered bath the refractory lining is based on either MgO or Al2O3 the type of alumina raw material used—bauxite or tabular alumina—is heavily influenced by the thermal impact in the respective area [2] A further critical point is the hearth design as this furnace region faces high lifting forces that can lead to an increased risk of floating bottom linings RHI Magnesita designs always consider a special and unique type of interlocking system to support the lining integrity in the hearth area the isotherm distribution of the refractory lining in the case of thermal expansion as well as thermal profiles of multilayer designs considering OEM- and customer-relevant specifications are taken into account and investigated using finite element method tools during the engineering phase of the smelter refractory design [2] In order to realise long-term stable operation of such a large furnace is thorough examination of the special requirements of furnace areas that are exposed to the highest stresses One of the most demanding areas is the interface between the bath as the very acidic slags combined with super-heated baths require a very tight refractory lining based on design and engineering The detailed engineering of such linings always demands an in-depth view on the relevant expansion calculations [2]  Well-established and proven lining concept used in rectangular ESFs for ferroalloy applications (e.g. As the ESF technology is now being adapted to the steel industry it is key to gain a deeper understanding about the chemical and physical impact of this new steelmaking process on refractory materials which are being considered for the slag zone area of the smelter were tested at the Technology Center Leoben (Austria) to investigate their corrosion behaviour with a representative smelter slag The planned smelter operation under a reducing atmosphere in combination with long settling times will ensure high yields and generate a low Fe- and FeO-content slag Table II details the targeted smelter slag composition range which is similar to today’s blast furnace slags and also suitable for the cement industry The corrosion test was performed in the high-frequency induction furnace (HF-ITO) illustrated in Figure 8 which was flushed with CO and CO2 and filled with molten synthetic slag adjusted to the composition shown in Table II the refractory specimens were submerged in the slag-filled crucible and rotated to evaluate not only chemical resistance but also the hot erosion behaviour of the different grades  High-frequency induction furnace for corrosion testing Four basic material grades with different MgO and ZrO2 contents were selected for the evaluation The sample compositions are listed in Table III and Figure 9 depicts the specimens after the corrosion test Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the micro-X-ray fluorescence results of Sample 1 and Sample 2 depicting the relative distribution of Si and Ca The colour range demonstrates the relative amount of each element in the sample Comparison of the images shows that both samples were coated by the CaO- and SiO2-containing synthetic slag indicated by the white colour seen along the specimen tip it can be concluded that infiltration of Sample 1 which is based on fused magnesia and contained 21 wt.% Cr2O3 extended over the entire specimen and was probably caused by capillary effects which is based on sinter magnesia and no Cr2O3 was confined to the immersion depth of the specimen the amount of infiltration seemed to be higher this may even have a positive effect as it could potentially improve the formation of a freeze layer In Figure 12 it is evident that the material loss of Sample 1 was higher in the immersed area  Chemical composition of the specimens according to the technical data sheets Basic refractory specimens after the corrosion test The relative distribution of Ca and Si in Sample 3 which is based on fused magnesia and 27.5 wt.% fused magnesia chromite after an HF-ITO test are shown in Figures 13 and 14 These demonstrate Sample 3 had a similar outcome to Sample 1 namely the specimen was fully infiltrated and coated by Ca-Si slag a thicker slag layer on the tip of the specimen was formed and the results indicated a more aggressive wear compared to the other samples the HF-ITO tests indicate that the presence of Cr2O3 in the sample leads to formation of low-melting phases which affect the infiltration resistance and result in capillary effects it appears Cr2O3 reduction occurred; however further mineralogical research is required to gain a deeper understanding of the chemical reactions The results of Sample 2 look the most promising since slag infiltration as well as material wear caused by erosion were lower compared to the other samples further mineralogical investigations are required to fully characterise refractory materials that can withstand the chemical RHI Magnesia will conduct HF-ITO tests with selected nonbasic materials and different synthetic slag compositions the abatement of CO2 emissions is a major focus The two described process routes can serve as technological alternatives to achieve the targeted European Union CO2 reductions in the steel industry; however both options have their own benefits and challenges The smelter technology is not yet proven for steel production but it uses the already existing infrastructure of the integrated plants The DRI-EAF route is a well-established technology but encounters efficiency limitations depending on the DRI quality steel mills need to consider a vast number of aspects before deciding to implement these major process modifications as a pioneer of the refractory industry with many years’ experience RHI Magnesita aims to develop new refractory solutions to meet the requirements of the future steelmaking technologies Investigation of the corrosion behaviour was only an initial step to better understand the chemical and thermal effects occurring when basic refractory materials are immersed in a smelter slag In the framework of further R&D studies process-adapted refractory concepts will be developed RHI Magnesita not only possess extensive know-how and expertise in the engineering and refractory design of mega-scale smelters it also has numerous references in EAF applications for both scrap- and DRI-based operations RHI Magnesita is uniquely positioned to transfer proven concepts and learnings from one industry to another and support steel customers navigate through the green steel transformation ABOUT STORIES CINEMA WHITEPAPERS Events SUBSCRIBE The original version of this article, published by Primetals Technologies, an MHI Group company, may be found here:
https://magazine.primetals.com/2023/06/12/three-phases-to-green-steel/  Steel is a highly sustainable product that is nearly infinitely recyclable and crucial to the infrastructure necessary for developing industries the CO2 generated by every ton of crude steel production is nearly double that of the steel produced the iron and steel industry is responsible for 7-10% of global carbon emissions.  the sector must fundamentally change how metals are produced with sustainability principles at the core of the process clean energy sources and the application of artificial intelligence Green steel is the term that has come to embody this global transformation of the metals industry.  With demand for eco-friendly production coinciding with a steady increase in underlying steel demand a premium price for green steel will emerge helping to fund the transformation of production routes and creating a sustainable industry this transition will not occur overnight; the experts at Primetals Technologies see the transition in three phases.  the basic oxygen furnace (BOF) revolutionized the steel industry the blast furnace (BF) and BOF route comprise approximately 70% of worldwide steel production producing one ton of steel this way generates almost two tons of CO₂ emissions The good news is that readily available technologies can reduce these emissions by 25-40% while increasing yields and reducing maintenance costs and waste these technologies range from blowing more oxygen into the BF to increase combustion efficiency to recovering heat via specialized ‘top gas recovery’ turbines.  increasing scrap use is a clear focal point throughout all phases toward green steel Primetals Technologies has developed ‘crafted scrap’ a means of leveraging tracking sensors and AI-powered tools to ensure a well-sorted and refined batch of scrap is delivered to the melting units Scrap use does come with additional hurdles can increase the amount a BOF can process from around 15% to 20% Adding technologies like a bottom-blowing converter can raise the scrape rate to 30-50% reducing CO₂ emissions by almost two fifths Digitalization is another way to boost efficiency from measurement technology to data management A network of sensors creates a ‘digital orchestra’ where each part of the steelmaking process interacts in perfect harmony.  new technologies are emerging at an auspicious time With about 70% of all BFs worldwide requiring relining by 2030 producers have a near-term opportunity to shift toward two key innovations: direct reduction of iron ore (DRI) and electrification The MIDREX direct reduction process has gained traction worldwide as a leading DRI process with immediate benefits for the reduction of CO2 and the production of high-quality merchant hot-briquetted iron (HBI).  HBI is a valuable material since it can be easily transported implemented in existing integrated steel plants and used in electric steelmaking a MIDREX plant operating entirely on natural gas significantly reduces overall emissions compared to a BF MIDREX plants can transition as the hydrogen economy expands For the most environmentally friendly means of steel production switching from the traditional BF-BOF route to scrap-based electric steelmaking can ‘future-proof’ steel plants but investing in EAFs while continuing to operate existing assets in the meltshop allows steelmakers to sequence any necessary changes to plant logistics and maintain capacity.  Beyond incorporating changes into the raw material value chain or the meltshop itself such as continuous casting and rolling present further improvement opportunities allows producers to go from liquid metal to rolled end products in record time with less energy consumption and in an ultra-compact format The final step toward producing green steel is to eliminate carbon emissions.  this means using 100% hydrogen as the reducing agent rather than natural gas – with Primetals Technologies offering its HyREX and HYFOR technologies in cooperation with voestalpine and the mining company Fortescue Primetals Technologies is pre-engineering an industrial-scale demonstration plant in Linz expanding on the success of the HYFOR pilot plant to produce green pig iron from iron ore fines.  producers are already focused on incorporating hydrogen production into their plant infrastructures such as H2Future: a pilot facility to test the application of hydrogen in steel production located at voestalpine’s steelworks in Linz.  powering EAFs with renewable energy can effectively eliminate all emissions from this portion of the steelmaking process rapid growth in the renewables sector required to supply the power the steel industry would require will require vast amounts of steel.  Recognizing that some producers may be slower to transition to a zero-carbon production route producers are also focusing on recycling previously wasted carbon emissions through carbon capture technologies Primetals Technologies has helped to establish a gas-fermentation “Steelanol” plant at ArcelorMittal’s facility in Gent recycling blast-furnace waste gas into bioethanol Converting waste into valuable by-products and becoming a flagship zero-waste carbon-neutral industry—the future of sustainable metals is defined by green steel technologies that are reshaping global steel production Learn more about green steel In Primetals Technologies' Metals Magazine MHI GLOBAL SITE InnovationThis new technology could kill the business case for hydrogen in green steel productionMolten oxide electrolysis may prove to be a cheaper option than direct iron reduction — if start-up Boston Metal can demonstrate it works at scale IndustrialGreen steel | Tata adds grey hydrogen to coal in blast furnace and claims it will help its net-zero goalsIndian conglomerate says it has seen ‘marginal’ improvements in furnace performance as part of its four- to five-day trial Manufacturing Today India Home > Metals & Mining > Tata Steel’s £1.25 billion partership with Tenova to install electric arc furnace at Port Talbot Tata Steel’s investment at Port Talbot highlights the importance of reducing emissions while continuing to meet global steel demand Tata Steel has signed a contract with Italy’s Tenova to install an electric arc furnace at its Port Talbot plant in Wales marking a significant shift away from blast furnace production The £1.25 billion project is backed by £500 million in support from the UK government aiming to cut carbon emissions at the site by 90% by 2027 expected to be operational by the end of 2027 will play a crucial role in Tata Steel’s sustainability efforts The company estimates that the new furnace will reduce the plant’s steelmaking carbon emissions by 5 million tonnes of CO2 annually aligning with global goals for greener industrial operations which recently ended blast furnace operations at the Port Talbot plant completed public consultations on its planning application and is set to submit the formal application in November 2024 The company is working closely with local authorities to ensure smooth approvals with plans to begin site work around July 2025 This investment underscores Tata Steel’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint while maintaining production efficiency which melt scrap steel using electricity instead of coal represents a significant step towards decarbonising the steel industry a global leader in sustainable solutions for the metals industry is expected to set a benchmark for future green initiatives within the steel sector This project is part of broader efforts to transition towards more sustainable steel production contributing to the UK’s net-zero carbon targets BlueScope Steel (ASX:BSL), the steel business carved out of BHP (ASX:BHP) two decades ago will press ahead with a study on a $1 billion furnace reline at the Port Kembla steelworks It is a surefire indication those in the know do not view the transition to so-called ‘green steel’ as a near-term shift The reline of the mothballed number 6 blast furnace will have a 20 year life and cost up to $300 million more than BlueScope initially planned setting the firm up to maintain its domestic supply of steel from 2026 helping BlueScope through the energy transition ahead of its 2050 net zero target BlueScope’s position is the furnace reline will provide a “challenging but credible timeline” for the development of low emissions steelmaking technologies “The reline does not lock BlueScope in to blast furnace steelmaking for the full 20 years if technology is ready earlier,” the company said achieving this will be dependent on several enablers including access to low cost green hydrogen the development of suitable raw material supply chains and appropriate policy settings.” It follows comments last week from South32 (ASX:S32) CEO Graham Kerr, a supplier of metallurgical coal to BlueScope, that coal would have a use in the steelmaking process for at least 20 years given the infancy of low emissions technologies like green hydrogen. BlueScope is well stocked to deploy capital at the moment after reporting record first half underlying profit of $1.57 billion That came off the back of a 62% increase in revenue thanks to strong demand and prices to $9.42 billion Its underlying EBIT for the second half of 2022 is expected to be $1.2-1.35b second only to the half just gone ($2.2b) in the company’s 20 year history as a separate entity It will pay a 25c per share dividend and increase a buyback scheme that has already paid out $285m since August 2021 to allow a further $700m of buybacks over the next 12 months IGO (ASX:IGO) is on something of a buying spree, following up its $1.1 billion cash takeover of Western Areas (ASX:WSA) with reports of a deal likely in the same ballpark to mop up Glencore’s CSA copper mine in New South Wales The battery metals miner confirmed its status today as the leading horse in the race for the Cobar mine which produces around 50,000t of copper a year “IGO confirms that it is in exclusive discussions with Glencore in relation to a proposed sale of CSA discussions between IGO and Glencore are incomplete and IGO is continuing to conduct due diligence as part of the ongoing sales process IGO has made no decision and nor has it entered into any definitive acquisition agreement with respect to CSA,” IGO said in a statement “IGO regularly evaluates acquisition opportunities against a range of factors and will only pursue an acquisition if it makes strong strategic and financial sense for its shareholders.” The company was a junior gold explorer when it bought the Long Nickel Mine off WMC 20 years ago for $15 million It has since become a $9 billion company and hived off its gold interests last year to sharpen its focus on the key battery metals lithium CSA would be the third major acquisition in a year by IGO alongside WSA and its purchase of a 49% stake in Tianqi Lithium’s Australian business including its Kwinana hydroxide plant and share of the Greenbushes mine in WA’s South West IGO last week announced it had reached an agreement with Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo Metals whose ~10% stake in Western Areas loomed as the major impediment to its takeover bid Investor Guide: Gold & Copper FY2025 featuring Barry FitzGerald Get the latest breaking news and stocks straight to your inbox company profiles and industry insights from Australia’s best business journalists – all collated and delivered straight to your inbox every day An area showing JFE Steel's West Japan Works (Kurashiki) steel plant TOKYO -- Japan's second largest steelmaker JFE Steel will switch one of its furnaces to electric around 2028 as it aims to go greener This will be the first time that any of Japan's top three steel companies have aimed to make their blast furnaces electric According to people familiar with the matter 2 blast furnace at the Kurashiki Area of the West Japan Works that needs to be replaced in the next five to six years to an electric one The impact on its employment will be limited