According to an official press release, Tata Steel Jamshedpur Works has begun testing the use of coal bed methane (CBM) gas as a blast furnace injectant at its E Blast Furnace. Continuous injection of CBM should reduce E Blast Furnace’s coke consumption rate by 10 kg/thm and lower emissions by 33 kg CO₂ per metric ton of crude steel produced, Tata Steel said.

Over the next several weeks, Tata Steel researchers will study the new technique’s impact on furnace productivity. The data gathered will help the company design and scale future emissions reduction projects, Tata Steel said.

“Technologies to decarbonize steel at scale are not ready yet,” commented Uttam Singh, Tata Steel’s vice president of ironmaking. “Tata Steel has undertaken various technology initiatives including pilots and trials to explore new and scalable solutions for decarbonization. This initiative of CBM injection in [the] blast furnace will provide us with useful insights into blast furnace operation with hydrogen-based injectants and help reduce emissions.”

Read more here.