Rio Tinto’s agreement to supply iron ore pellets for GravitHy’s sustainable ironmaking project in France is a significant step toward reducing the carbon footprint of steel production. The collaboration centers on GravitHy’s plans to use hydrogen-based processes, specifically through direct reduction iron (DRI), to produce low-carbon hot briquetted iron (HBI). This method offers a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions—over 90% compared to traditional blast furnace-based processes, aligning with global efforts to decarbonize heavy industries like steelmaking.
GravitHy’s planned facility in Fos-sur-Mer, France, will produce up to two million tonnes of HBI annually, leveraging nuclear power to generate hydrogen for the DRI process. This use of grid-connected nuclear power helps mitigate emissions compared to traditional natural gas-based hydrogen production. The French government has recognized the project’s potential, designating it as an “Industrial Project of Major National Interest.”
Rio Tinto’s involvement underscores its commitment to reducing its own Scope 3 emissions, which are emissions generated from the use of its products (in this case, iron ore pellets) in downstream industries like steelmaking. The agreement also positions Rio Tinto’s high-grade iron ore as a key feedstock for the emerging low-carbon steel industry, with potential long-term benefits for both companies in creating a more sustainable steel value chain.
The partnership represents a promising synergy between Rio Tinto’s mining expertise and GravitHy’s innovative approach to steel decarbonisation, with the project slated to be commissioned in 2028.
