An industry consortium comprising some of the world’s biggest steelmakers and other value chain players has joined forces to assess the development of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) hubs across Asia.

The consortium comprises steel giants ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, JSW Steel and Hyundai Steel Company, as well as BHP, Chevron and Mitsui & Co.

The CCUS hub prefeasibility is the first independent industry-led study of its kind in Asia and will examine the technical and commercial pathways to using CCUS in hard-to-abate industries across Asia. The study will focus on the potential to develop large-scale projects which can repurpose, or store, captured CO₂.

By leveraging shared infrastructure and economies of scale, the study will seek potential applications for captured CO₂ in industrial processes, or transport captured CO₂ via pipeline or shipping to storage sites in Asia or northern Australia.

The plan is for each participant in the study to be included in at least one hub, and the study will deliver conceptual development strategies for each hub including cost and schedule estimates, and potential commercialisation pathways.

The study will also look at non-technical enablers required to make CCUS hubs a reality, for example regulatory assessments including intra and inter-regional assessments of CCUS and cross border transport.

“BHP is committed to supporting our steelmaking customers on their journey to decarbonise the industry. With more than one-billion tonnes of production a year in Asia coming from blast furnace capacity that is relatively early in its production life, it is important for industry to progress technologies to decarbonise existing steelmaking assets while new commercial pathways to decarbonise steelmaking are developed over time,” commented BHP marketing sustainability VP Ben Ellis.

“By leveraging shared knowledge and resources with our partners, we are investing in support for innovative solutions – like the potential of CCUS – that we see as an essential part of decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors such as steelmaking.”

The consortium, which is open to additional members joining and contributing to the study, has appointed Hatch as project management officer in collaboration with Global CCS Institute, McDaniel, and Pace CCS.

The study is expected to conclude at the end of 2026, with findings to be shared publicly to promote broader industry learning and support the development of enabling policy and regulatory frameworks.