Rio Tinto has entered into definitive agreements with GravitHy, a French ironmaking start-up, to help accelerate the latter’s decarbonization project in France.
As part of this collaboration, Rio Tinto will supply high-grade direct reduction iron ore pellets from its Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operations to GravitHy’s planned operation and manage the sales and marketing of the hot briquetted iron (HBI) GravitHy produces.
GravitHy's proposed 2Mt/yr iron production facility at Fos-sur-Mer, France, is planned to be commissioned in 2028. The facility, which is located next to a deep seaport, aims to feature ultra-low carbon hydrogen production infrastructure, powered by existing grid-connected nuclear power, to process direct reduction pellets into HBI. This process has the potential to reduce ironmaking-related CO2 emissions by more than 90%, says the company.
''We are developing one of the most advanced ultra- low-carbon iron projects worldwide, designated by the French government as an ‘Industrial Project of Major National Interest’'.
José Noldin, CEO, GravitHy
GravitHy CEO José Noldin said: ‘‘We are developing one of the most advanced ultra- low-carbon iron projects worldwide, designated by the French government as an ‘Industrial Project of Major National Interest’. By combining our business ambitions, agility, and technological capabilities with Rio Tinto’s global leadership in mining and steel decarbonization, we are ensuring a solid sourcing and go-to- market strategy to help accelerate the development of this project.’’
‘‘This collaboration is aligned with Rio Tinto’s steel decarbonization strategy to accelerate the development of low-carbon electric arc furnace steelmaking with high-grade iron ore as feedstock.''
Simon Farry, head of steel decarbonization, Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto’s head of steel decarbonization, Simon Farry, added: ‘‘This collaboration is aligned with Rio Tinto’s steel decarbonization strategy to accelerate the development of low-carbon Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking with high-grade iron ore as feedstock. This will allow us to both reduce our Scope 3 emissions and create valuable decarbonized pathways for our high-grade iron ore. We are excited to support GravitHy’s project and expand our understanding of the emerging green iron and steel market.’’