Today we're at Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron and Steel - China's revolutionary "Green Furnace." In late 2023, it launched the nation's first million-ton hydrogen-based shaft furnace, marking a historic leap in green steelmaking. Let's explore this marvel of sustainable industry!  

We're now standing on the hydrogen shaft furnace's platform - this towering structure reaches 117 meters high.  

What makes this hydrogen furnace so special?  

Tang Shiming / Assistant of the Plant Director, Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron & Steel Co., Ltd.  

This innovative process replaces coal with hydrogen to reduce iron ore, cutting carbon emissions by over 60%. With future green hydrogen, we'll achieve more than 90% decarbonization versus traditional methods.  

The hydrogen furnace converts iron ore into sponge iron.  

Iris Wong / Host 

These small black pellets I'm holding? They're sponge iron!  

Tang Shiming:

The sponge iron goes to electric furnaces to become molten steel. After casting and rolling processes, we get finished steel products.  

Baosteel Zhanjiang is building a zero-carbon thin steel plate line. When complete, it will reduce emissions by 3.14 million tons annually compared to conventional methods — a giant leap for green steel.