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Tenova to Supply Technology for Australian Green Steelmaking Project
07/30/2025 - Tenova announced today it has been selected as the preferred technology supplier for NeoSmelt and will lead the front-end engineering design of the initiative’s direct reduced iron (DRI) pilot plant in the Kwinana Industrial Area of Australia.
The NeoSmelt project is backed by a consortium including BlueScope, BHP, Rio Tinto, Woodside Energy and Mitsui Iron Ore Development. Part of a broader effort to explore greener and more flexible ways to produce steel, the project involves a feasibility study for a pilot facility integrating DRI and electric smelting furnace (ESF) technology.
Tenova said the DRI pilot plant will use ENERGIRON technology, developed by both Tenova and Danieli. They estimate it will produce up to 50,000 metric tons of DRI annually and use a dual-fuel system to allow it to use either natural gas or hydrogen as a reducing agent.
“We are proud to contribute with our technology and expertise to such a pioneering initiative for the future of iron- and steelmaking,” said Jorge Eugenio Martinez Miramontes, commercial director of Tenova HYL.
The plant will be able to produce highly metallized and high-carbon DRI along with processing low-grade iron ore. It will also be carbon capture-ready.
The companies said the aim of the project is to validate a new green route to produce molten ire using Pilbara iron ore.
The final investment decision is expected in 2026 while construction would begin shortly after if approved. Operations are planned for start-up in 2028.
Tenova said the DRI pilot plant will use ENERGIRON technology, developed by both Tenova and Danieli. They estimate it will produce up to 50,000 metric tons of DRI annually and use a dual-fuel system to allow it to use either natural gas or hydrogen as a reducing agent.
“We are proud to contribute with our technology and expertise to such a pioneering initiative for the future of iron- and steelmaking,” said Jorge Eugenio Martinez Miramontes, commercial director of Tenova HYL.
The plant will be able to produce highly metallized and high-carbon DRI along with processing low-grade iron ore. It will also be carbon capture-ready.
The companies said the aim of the project is to validate a new green route to produce molten ire using Pilbara iron ore.
The final investment decision is expected in 2026 while construction would begin shortly after if approved. Operations are planned for start-up in 2028.
