GravitHy partners with Rio Tinto to accelerate steel decarbonization in Europe

A partnership for sustainable steelmaking

Under this agreement, Rio Tinto will:

• Supply high-quality direct reduction iron ore pellets from its Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operations
• Contribute to the commercialization and sale of low-carbon Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) produced by GravitHy, leveraging its deep knowledge of steel mill flows and market dynamics to strengthen GravitHy’s commercial strategy

A pioneering plant in France

Our future plant in Fos-sur-Mer is scheduled to start operations in 2028. It will produce 2 million tonnes per year of low-carbon iron (HBI/DRI) using hydrogen generated on-site from ultra-low-carbon sources, powered by existing nuclear energy connected to the grid. This process will reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 90% compared to traditional ironmaking.

We are developing one of the most advanced ultralow-
carbon iron projects worldwide, designated by the French government as an ‘Industrial Project of Major
National Interest’. By combining our business ambitions, agility, and technological capabilities with Rio
Tinto’s global leadership in mining and steel decarbonisation, we are ensuring a solid sourcing and go-tomarket strategy to help accelerate the development of this project.
— José Noldin, CEO of GravitHy

A shared vision for the energy transition

This partnership aligns with Rio Tinto’s strategy to accelerate the development of low-carbon steel production through the use of electric arc furnaces and direct reduced iron as feedstock. It will help reduce Scope 3 emissions and create new decarbonization pathways for high-quality iron ore.

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