The Bokaro steel plant, owned by Indian state-owned steel mill Steel Authority of India limited (SAIL), has entered into a partnership to begin engineering work on a hydrogen gas injection system for one of its blast furnaces at Bokaro Steel City, according to UK manufacturer Primetals Technologies. The project will receive financial support from the Government of India under the Carbon Reduction Scheme, which aims to promote measurable emissions reductions in industrial sectors.
Phased introduction of hydrogen to optimize blast furnace operation
The main scope of the project involves hydrogen injection at the blast furnace tuyere level. In this scheme, hydrogen gas will partially replace traditional carbon fuels, which will directly reduce carbon emissions in the iron production process.
Primetals will design the system so that hydrogen can be introduced in stages, allowing operators to gradually adjust furnace conditions, optimize combustion and manage the technical complexities associated with the different behavior of hydrogen compared to coke or pulverized coal.
Bokaro Project positioned as model for Indian steel sector transition
Primetals said that by integrating hydrogen technologies, SAIL aims to demonstrate the practical benefits of decarbonization in high-performance steel production and create a model for the wider Indian steel industry.
