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NeoSmelt Consortium: Hatch to Design Australia’s Largest Ironmaking Electric Smelting Furnace
07/10/2025 - The NeoSmelt consortium has selected Hatch to provide electric smelting furnace technology along with project management and engineering services for its pilot plant in Pilbara, Western Australia.
According to a press release, Hatch will be responsible for project management, controls for the pilot feasibility study and engineering for the electric smelting furnace. It will also oversee the balance of plant infrastructure supporting the pilot. The smelter facility will use Hatch’s electric smelting furnace technology, CRISP+.
“This work leverages over 70 years of Hatch’s capability and experience in smelting furnace technology across multiple industries. We are delighted to bring our smelting technology to accelerate decarbonization of the iron and steel industry,” said John Bianchini, chair and chief executive officer of Hatch.
The NeoSmelt consortium is made up of five companies: BHP, BlueScope, Mitsui Iron Ore Development, Rio Tinto and Woodside Energy.
“The pilot will seek to demonstrate the viability of a lower carbon intensity technology ironmaking route using Pilbara iron ore in the difficult to abate iron and steel industry,” said Bianchini.
The project began feasibility studies in Q2 2025 and aims to make a final investment decision for the pilot plant in 2026. The consortium expects operations to begin in 2028.
“This work leverages over 70 years of Hatch’s capability and experience in smelting furnace technology across multiple industries. We are delighted to bring our smelting technology to accelerate decarbonization of the iron and steel industry,” said John Bianchini, chair and chief executive officer of Hatch.
The NeoSmelt consortium is made up of five companies: BHP, BlueScope, Mitsui Iron Ore Development, Rio Tinto and Woodside Energy.
“The pilot will seek to demonstrate the viability of a lower carbon intensity technology ironmaking route using Pilbara iron ore in the difficult to abate iron and steel industry,” said Bianchini.
The project began feasibility studies in Q2 2025 and aims to make a final investment decision for the pilot plant in 2026. The consortium expects operations to begin in 2028.
