Tata Steel to Deploy World-First EASyMelt Technology in Decarbonisation Push

Tata Steel has announced a landmark partnership with SMS Group to deploy what is described as the world’s first EASyMelt decarbonisation technology, marking a significant step in the steel industry’s transition to lower-carbon production.

The agreement, signed with SMS Group subsidiary Paul Wurth, will see the innovative electrically-assisted syngas smelter technology implemented at Tata Steel’s Jamshedpur Works. The company plans to convert its ‘E’ blast furnace into the first industrial-scale EASyMelt facility globally.

The project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50 per cent compared with current blast furnace operations, offering a potentially transformative pathway for decarbonising existing steel assets.

T V Narendran, Chief Executive and Managing Director of Tata Steel, said the initiative underscores the importance of innovation and collaboration in achieving climate goals.

“The transition to low-carbon steelmaking will be shaped by our ability to reimagine and transform existing production ecosystems,” he said. “Our collaboration with SMS Group marks a significant milestone, accelerating our journey towards achieving net zero.”

The EASyMelt process is designed to provide greater flexibility in raw material use while enabling substantial emissions reductions, with the longer-term potential to support climate-neutral steel production.

Jochen Burg welcomed the partnership, noting that the project represents a major step towards scaling the technology for broader industrial use.

Following a memorandum of understanding signed in 2023 and a successful feasibility study, the companies will now move ahead with phased implementation of the technology.

The initiative forms part of Tata Steel’s wider ambition to reach net-zero emissions by 2045—one of the most ambitious targets in the global steel sector—and highlights increasing momentum behind efforts to decarbonise heavy industry.