Epiroc is starting a partnership with steelmaker SSAB to secure fossil-free steel for use in the production of Epiroc’s mining equipment.
“Sustainability is integrated in everything we do, and we are committed to halving our CO2e emissions by 2030,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s president/CEO, in a prepared statement. “This exciting partnership with SSAB will support us and our customers on the journey to reach our very ambitious climate goals. It is clear that our innovation agenda goes hand-in-hand with our customers’ sustainability agenda.”
SSAB aims to deliver fossil-free steel to the market in commercial scale during 2026, and delivered the first steel made of hydrogen-reduced iron in 2021. SSAB works with iron ore producer LKAB and energy company Vattenfall as part of the HYBRIT initiative to develop a value chain for fossil-free iron and steel production, replacing coking coal traditionally needed for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. This process virtually eliminates carbon dioxide-emissions in steel production.
Epiroc will initially use fossil-free steel for material for a prototype underground machine produced at its facility in Orebro, Sweden, and the plan is to increase the usage of fossil-free steel over time.
“We are very happy to welcome Epiroc in our partner group and look forward to the fossil-free steel collaboration,” said Martin Lindqvist, SSAB’s president/CEO, in a statement. “It´s a natural next step in our joint efforts to mitigate climate change. Demand for fossil-free steel is increasing, which is one of the reasons for SSAB to bring forward its green transition with the ambition to largely eliminate carbon dioxide emissions around 2030.”
Source: Epiroc
