Nippon Steel Completes Test Production of DRI Using Hydrogen, Low-Grade Iron Ore
11/04/2026 - Nippon Steel Corp. announced it conducted a direct reduction test with 100% hydrogen and lower-grade iron ore as raw material at its Hasaki Research & Development Center.
The company said it conducted over 300 hours of continuous operation to produce over 1,000 metric tons of direct reduced iron (DRI). They focused on the endothermic characteristics associated with reduction reactions using only hydrogen and the powdering tendency of low-grade iron ore to achieve stable DRI production.
This project is one of three Nippon Steel is working on as part of the “Nippon Steel Carbon Neutral Vision 2050.” The others include high-grade steel production in large-scale electric arc furnaces and hydrogen reduction in blast furnaces.
The stable reaction in the pilot-scale shaft furnace was achieved by applying thermal compensation technology designed for the endothermic reaction during direct hydrogen reduction, Nippon Steel said. It will continue the tests to establish DRI technology and optimize operational conditions while advancing development.
The consortium pushing the project forward includes Nippon Steel, JFE Steel Corp. and the Japan Research and Development Center for Metals.
This project is one of three Nippon Steel is working on as part of the “Nippon Steel Carbon Neutral Vision 2050.” The others include high-grade steel production in large-scale electric arc furnaces and hydrogen reduction in blast furnaces.
The stable reaction in the pilot-scale shaft furnace was achieved by applying thermal compensation technology designed for the endothermic reaction during direct hydrogen reduction, Nippon Steel said. It will continue the tests to establish DRI technology and optimize operational conditions while advancing development.
The consortium pushing the project forward includes Nippon Steel, JFE Steel Corp. and the Japan Research and Development Center for Metals.
