By Abbas Nazil
China has inaugurated its first million-tonne near-zero-carbon steel production line in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, representing a major step in the steel sector’s low-carbon transformation.
The facility employs an advanced hydrogen-based electric smelting process, replacing conventional coke with hydrogen as the primary reducing agent.
This shift significantly reduces carbon emissions while offering an alternative pathway for the steel industry to minimize dependence on fossil fuels.
The direct reduced iron from the hydrogen-based shaft furnace has achieved the expected metallization rates, while energy-efficient electric furnaces improve overall energy utilization.
Compared to traditional steelmaking methods, this new line can lower carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent.
According to Baowu Steel staff, the Zhanjiang facility has the potential to prevent over 3.14 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to the carbon absorption of approximately 2,000 square kilometers of forest.
The launch aligns with China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), which emphasizes high-quality development and green transformation for the steel industry.
During this period, the number of certified green steel plants increased yearly, with 126 new facilities added between 2021 and 2024.
By the third quarter of 2025, emissions of sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides dropped to 0.18 kg, 0.22 kg, and 0.33 kg per tonne of steel, representing declines of 28 percent, 26.7 percent, and 36.5 percent compared to 2021.
The China Iron and Steel Association also launched an extreme energy efficiency program, which in 2024 alone achieved energy savings equivalent to 10.5 million tonnes of standard coal, cutting roughly 27.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions—comparable to the annual carbon sequestration of nearly 570 million mature trees.
Industry observers say the Zhanjiang line highlights China’s commitment to integrating sustainable technologies, reducing industrial emissions, and fostering low-carbon development across strategic sectors.
Experts note that such innovations could serve as a model for global steel production, demonstrating how hydrogen-based processes can revolutionize energy-intensive industries while addressing climate change challenges.
The facility underscores China’s strategic focus on green industrial growth, technological innovation, and the transition toward environmentally responsible manufacturing.
