POSCO is expanding its collaboration with global companies to commercialize the hydrogen reduction steelmaking technology known as HyREX.
On October 22, POSCO announced that it held the 'HyREX R&D Partnership Conference 2026' from October 19 to 20 at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju and at the Pohang Steelworks.
About 100 representatives from global companies and research institutions, including Japan's JFE, Germany's Salzgitter, Australia's BHP, Rio Tinto, Fortescue, and Brazil's Vale, shared updates on HyREX technology development and discussed collaboration strategies in raw materials, hydrogen, and equipment.
The HyREX R&D Partnership is a collaborative framework formed by steelmakers, raw material suppliers, energy companies, and research institutions to commercialize hydrogen reduction steelmaking technology. Raw material suppliers verify the process applicability of iron ore, energy companies focus on hydrogen production and supply technologies, while research institutions study process and equipment technologies.
In September, POSCO signed a cooperation agreement with BHP to verify the process applicability and commercialization potential of BHP's iron ore.
The conference included updates on the national research and development project for HyREX, the status of fluid reduction technology development, and progress on pilot electric melting furnace research. The design and construction status of a demo plant to validate the continuous operation and commercialization potential of the HyREX process were also presented.
Participants toured the construction site of the HyREX demo plant at the Pohang Steelworks, as well as the 3-Pyrolysis and pilot electric melting furnace.
A POSCO official stated, "The HyREX R&D Partnership is an open collaboration platform that addresses the commercialization challenges of hydrogen reduction steelmaking with global partners. We aim to enhance the completeness and commercialization potential of the technology through expanded joint research and technology exchange."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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