Tata Steel becomes India’s first to use biochar for greener steel production

Tata Steel has become the first Indian steelmaker to introduce biochar as a partial replacement for fossil fuels, marking a significant step in its sustainability journey. Starting with a trial in January 2023, the company has replaced around 30,000 tonnes of fossil fuel with biochar at its Jamshedpur plant. This shift is expected to cut over 50,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually while boosting energy efficiency by replacing part of the pulverised coal injection. The approach, successfully applied in blast furnaces exceeding 3,000 m³ and 9,000 tonnes per day production, is a global advancement in steelmaking.

Earlier this year, the company also led a successful trial using biomass in ferrochrome production in Odisha. Tata Steel’s commitment to carbon neutrality includes utilising alternative energy sources like solar power and biofuels for shipping. Recognised as a Steel Sustainability Champion for the seventh consecutive year, Tata Steel continues to lead the way in sustainable steelmaking with over 90 per cent of its production from ResponsibleSteelTM certified sites.