Jindal Steel Integrates Low-Carbon Hydrogen Into Steelmaking at Angul Plant
New Delhi, October 15, 2026: Jindal Steel Limited has integrated green hydrogen into its direct reduced iron operations at its integrated steel complex in Angul, Odisha, according to a press release issued by the company.
The initiative blends green hydrogen into the plant’s coal-gasification-based Midrex MxCol direct reduced iron process, partially substituting coal-based syngas while maintaining furnace stability and operational continuity. Implemented in phases, Phase I has been operational since May 2026 and utilizes a 5 MW alkaline electrolyser supplying green hydrogen at 1,000 Nm³ per hour to the shaft furnace. Phase II, planned for July 2027, aims to expand capacity with a 30 MW electrolyser supplying 6,000 Nm³ per hour.
Project data indicates that Phase I is expected to reduce emissions by approximately 9 kg of carbon dioxide per tonne of direct reduced iron. Phase II is projected to achieve a reduction of approximately 55 kg of carbon dioxide per tonne, amounting to a daily reduction of about 264 tonnes of carbon dioxide under stated operating parameters.
Unlike natural-gas-based configurations, the technology applies directly to a coal-gasification-based process. Hydrogen is blended into processed syngas and recycled furnace top gas without altering the core reactor, offering a potential transition pathway for steel facilities operating in coal-rich regions with constrained natural gas availability. The system incorporates targeted oxygen injection, hydrogen-compatible pipeline materials, automated safety controls, and emergency isolation mechanisms. Design work was executed by Fichtner, with detailed project report validation conducted by IIT Kharagpur.
The phased implementation allows for operational evaluation and experience building required for higher hydrogen injection rates, providing a model for potential replication across applicable direct reduced iron installations.
