India’s state-owned Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has started using biochar in its steelmaking process at its plant in Odisha, aiming to reduce carbon emissions.
On August 24, SAIL conducted biochar trials in the No. 1 Blast Furnace (BF) at its Rourkela Steel Plant.
Biochar, produced through the pyrolysis of plant and animal biomass, can partially replace pulverized coal injection (PCI) in blast furnaces.
India’s steel industry heavily relies on traditional blast furnace technology, which uses coal as a reducing agent to produce iron, releasing significant amounts of carbon in the process. According to data, coal-based blast furnaces account for 73% of India’s total operational ironmaking capacity.
SAIL’s initiative is part of this global trend, exploring sustainable options to reduce the carbon footprint of steelmaking.
