BHP Leads Consortium to Investigate Carbon Capture Opportunities in Asia

BHP Group, the world's largest miner, is leading a consortium of steelmakers, including ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, JSW Steel, Hyundai Steel, Chevron, and Mitsui & Co., to investigate opportunities for carbon capture utilization and storage across Asia. The study aims to identify potential large-scale CCUS projects to store emissions from blast furnaces used in steel production, which accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions. The study is expected to conclude in 2026 and will focus on sites in Asia or Northern Australia.

BHP Group, the world's largest miner, is spearheading a consortium of steelmakers and industrial giants to explore carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) opportunities across Asia. The group, which includes ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, JSW Steel, Hyundai Steel, Chevron, and Mitsui & Co., aims to identify potential large-scale CCUS projects to store emissions from blast furnaces used in steel production [1].

The steel industry is one of the hardest to decarbonize due to its heavy reliance on coal, which accounts for over 70% of global steel production [2]. The consortium's pre-feasibility study, expected to conclude in 2026, will focus on sites in Asia or Northern Australia. The study will assess the development of shared infrastructure to capture, store, or repurpose carbon dioxide emissions at scale, with a particular focus on the steel, cement, and chemical sectors [2].

The collaboration marks a rare cross-industry effort to tackle the region's carbon-intensive sectors. The study will deliver conceptual development strategies, cost and schedule estimates, and commercialization pathways for multiple hubs. Australia's engineering services firm Hatch has been appointed project management officer, working with technical advisers including the Global CCS Institute, McDaniel, and Pace CCS [2].

The consortium's work is significant as it addresses the limited commercial CCUS projects in Asia and the viability of the technology remains uncertain. The study will also examine regulatory and policy conditions needed to enable cross-border carbon dioxide transport and storage, a crucial aspect for the regional deployment of CCUS [2].

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-10/bhp-leads-steelmaker-venture-in-asian-carbon-capture-storage
[2] https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/esg/steel-giants-look-carbon-capture-hubs-across-asia