BHP-Led Consortium Studies Carbon Capture Hubs Across Asia

A consortium led by BHP and involving major steelmakers like ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India, JSW Steel, Hyundai Steel, along with energy companies Chevron and Mitsui, has launched a pre-feasibility study to explore large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) hubs across Asia. This cross-industry collaboration targets hard-to-abate sectors such as steelmaking, which accounts for about 8% of global CO₂ emissions, aiming to leverage shared infrastructure to reduce costs and aggregate CO₂ volumes for storage or reuse. The study, managed by Australia's Hatch and expected to conclude by the end of 2026, will also address regulatory challenges including cross-border CO₂ transport and storage. CCUS is viewed as a vital transitional technology for retrofitting existing steel production facilities while newer low-carbon methods develop, with companies like BHP investing hundreds of millions of dollars in related decarbonization efforts. Projects in Asia, including Indonesia's multiple CCUS initiatives and China's large-scale coal power CCUS facility, illustrate how collaboration and shared infrastructure enhance economic viability and operational efficiency. This innovative hub-based approach underscores the growing recognition of CCUS as essential for decarbonizing industrial sectors and achieving climate commitments in Asia.