Mitsubishi Corporation has joined an international demonstration project in Linz, Austria, to revolutionize iron production through a hydrogen-based process. The collaboration, spearheaded by Primetals Technologies and involving Rio Tinto and voestalpine, aims to establish an industrial-scale prototype plant utilizing HYFOR and electric smelting furnace technology. By eliminating the need for agglomeration steps, the HYFOR process enables the use of various iron ores and reduces carbon dioxide emissions significantly through the utilization of hydrogen from renewable sources. The plant is set to produce approximately three tons per hour of hot metal and hot briquetted iron, with Rio Tinto supplying the majority of the iron ore. With operations expected to start in mid-2027, the project is backed by funding from the Austrian government and the European Union. The initiative reflects a commitment to sustainable industrial practices and aligns with global decarbonisation efforts in the steel industry, highlighting the growing importance of low-emission technologies in the sector.