China unveils steel-making technology that is 3,600 times faster and coal-free: report
24 Apr 2025
China is reported to have developed a groundbreaking technology for steel production that is 3,600 times faster and does not involve the use of coal, with the potential to revolutionise steel manufacturing while drastically reducing its environmental impact.
The new technology, known as the flash steel-making technology, involves injecting finely ground iron ore powder into an extremely hot furnace and causing an “explosive chemical reaction” that would then trigger the formation of bright red, glowing liquid that rain down into the bottom of the furnace.
This, according to the team involved in the technology project, is high-purity iron that can be directly used for steel making and even casting.
The new technology, developed after a decade of research by Chinese scientists, does away with the long and energy-intensive process involved in traditional steel making, and cuts production time from several hours to just six seconds, says a report in the South China Morning Post.
This, the report adds, is a 3,600-fold increase in the steel making process, besides eliminating the use of coal. This one-step steel making technology could potentially alter the way steel is made.
By avoiding the use of coal, the new steel making process could help China meet its ambitious targets of lowering carbon emissions, while also helping to improve energy efficiency by over a third.
Moreover, the new technology will allow China to produce steel from low grade ores available locally, which would significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imported ores.
China, the world’s largest producer of steel, is dependant on imported ore from Australia, Brazil and Africa for high-grade iron ore. The ability to produce steel from lower grade ore would significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imports.
