Masdar and Emirates Steel Arkan have agreed to work together on the development of a project which is aiming to decarbonise the steel sector in the UAE.

This project is focused on green hydrogen and it will be the first project of its kind to be based within the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. The project will focus solely on decarbonising the hard-to-abate steel sector in the UAE, and will be based in the Emirates Steel Arkan production facilities, which are located in Abu Dhabi. The tools for this project to commence are currently at the point of installation.

This project will bring huge benefits to the UAE sector and to the world as a whole as currently an estimated 7-8% of worldwide carbon emissions are emitted from the steel manufacturing industry. Therefore, the development of a plant which will decarbonise this industry through the use of hydrogen, is a necessity as it has the potential to cut carbon dioxide emissions in the steel making process by 95%. It is expected that this project will be commissioned at the beginning of 2024 and will demonstrate how iron can be extracted through using green hydrogen. Extracting iron is an integral part of steel making process and electrolysers have already been delivered to the site, in preparation for the production of green steel.

These developments are an excellent step forwards for the steel industry and will also help the UAE with reaching its goal of evolving into one of the world's biggest hydrogen producers by 2031.

Emirates Steel Arkan’s Group CEO, Eng. Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, commented, “As the first steel company in the MENA region, and among the pioneers worldwide to adopt green hydrogen for sustainable steel production, this project represents a major milestone in our commitment to realise our company’s sustainability objectives. By embracing cutting-edge technologies and fostering strategic collaborations, we are spearheading the industry’s shift towards a more sustainable future, in harmony with the UAE’s strategic commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050.”