Tata Steel announced on April 21, 2026 — and the news was widely covered through April 23, 2026 — that it had signed definitive agreements with Paul Wurth, S.A. of Luxembourg, part of SMS Group GmbH, to deploy the world's first industrial-scale EASyMelt (Electrically-Assisted Syngas Smelter) decarbonisation technology at its Jamshedpur Works in Jharkhand. The first conversion will be carried out at the company's 'E' Blast Furnace, a 649-cubic-metre unit, with the project targeting a CO2 emission reduction of more than fifty per cent compared to the baseline blast furnace operation. EASyMelt replaces a significant share of metallurgical coke with syngas as the reducing agent in iron-making; the syngas itself is produced through top-gas recycling and the reforming of hydrocarbon-rich streams such as coke-oven gas. The configuration allows flexible energy inputs — natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia or electricity — depending on local availability, making it especially relevant for an Indian transition path that gradually layers green hydrogen on top of existing fossil and grid energy. Tata Steel CEO and Managing Director T V Narendran said that the transition to low-carbon steelmaking will be shaped by the industry's ability to reimagine and transform existing production ecosystems through focused technology, innovation and partnerships. The two companies first signed an MOU in June 2023 and have completed front-end engineering studies before moving to definitive agreements. The deployment is a key milestone toward Tata Steel's 2045 net-zero goal — among the most aggressive adopted by major global steelmakers — and aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and India's broader Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce the emission intensity of GDP. India's steel sector accounts for about 10-12 per cent of the country's total carbon emissions, and large-scale validation of EASyMelt could shift the global decarbonisation pathway for blast-furnace-route steelmaking.
Tata Steel and SMS Group Sign Definitive Agreements to Deploy World's First EASyMelt Blast-Furnace Decarbonisation Technology at Jamshedpur Works; Targets Over 50 Per Cent CO2 Reduction
Tata Steel signed definitive agreements with Paul Wurth (SMS Group, Luxembourg) on April 21, 2026 to deploy the world's first industrial-scale EASyMelt decarbonisation technology at its Jamshedpur Works 'E' Blast Furnace (649 cubic metres), targeting over 50 per cent CO2 reduction. The technology replaces metallurgical coke with syngas and supports Tata Steel's 2045 net-zero target.
Key facts
- Tata Steel signed definitive agreements on April 21, 2026 with Paul Wurth, S.A. (Luxembourg), part of SMS Group GmbH, for the world's first EASyMelt deployment.
- The first conversion will be at the 'E' Blast Furnace at Jamshedpur Works in Jharkhand, with a 649-cubic-metre furnace volume.
- The project targets more than 50 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to the baseline blast furnace operation.
- EASyMelt replaces a significant share of metallurgical coke with syngas as the reducing agent in iron-making, with syngas produced via top-gas recycling and reforming of coke-oven gas.
- The configuration allows flexible energy inputs — natural gas, hydrogen, ammonia or electricity — supporting India's gradual green-hydrogen layering.
- The deployment supports Tata Steel's 2045 net-zero target, among the most aggressive adopted by global steelmakers.
- It aligns with the National Green Hydrogen Mission and India's NDCs to reduce the emission intensity of GDP, given that steel accounts for about seven per cent of India's industrial CO2.
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With reference to the EASyMelt blast-furnace decarbonisation deal announced by Tata Steel on April 21, 2026, consider the following statements: 1) The first deployment will be at Tata Steel's 'E' Blast Furnace at Jamshedpur Works in Jharkhand. 2) The agreement was signed with Paul Wurth, S.A., a Luxembourg company that is part of SMS Group GmbH. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Both statements are correct. The first industrial-scale EASyMelt deployment will take place at the 649-cubic-metre 'E' Blast Furnace at Tata Steel's Jamshedpur Works in Jharkhand. The definitive agreements were signed with Paul Wurth, S.A. of Luxembourg, which is part of SMS Group GmbH. The project targets over 50 per cent CO2 emission reduction.
Source: Tata Steel Press Release
Frequently asked questions
With which company has Tata Steel signed definitive agreements for the EASyMelt project?
Tata Steel has signed definitive agreements with Paul Wurth, S.A. of Luxembourg, which is part of SMS Group GmbH of Germany.
At which Tata Steel facility will the world's first EASyMelt deployment take place?
The first deployment will be carried out at the 'E' Blast Furnace, a 649-cubic-metre unit at Tata Steel's Jamshedpur Works in Jharkhand.
What is the targeted CO2 emission reduction from the EASyMelt deployment?
The project targets a reduction of more than fifty per cent in CO2 emissions compared to the baseline blast furnace operation.
How does EASyMelt technology reduce emissions?
It replaces a significant share of metallurgical coke with syngas as the reducing agent in iron-making, with syngas produced through top-gas recycling and reforming of hydrocarbon-rich streams; it also accepts flexible energy inputs including hydrogen and electricity.
Why is this announcement strategically significant for India?
Steel contributes about seven per cent of India's industrial CO2 emissions, and validating EASyMelt at industrial scale supports Tata Steel's 2045 net-zero goal, the National Green Hydrogen Mission, and India's NDCs to cut the emission intensity of GDP.
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