Environmentally Sustainable Ironmaking: An Indonesian Perspective

Indonesia is the country with the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Recently, Indonesia has been intensively developing its infrastructure. This infrastructure development has caused Indonesia's iron and steel consumption to continue continuously. The rapid growth of infrastructure and transportation in Indonesia contributes to a significant increase in CO2 emissions. Indonesia, as one of the countries to sign the Paris Agreement and COP21, should prepare for the development of a green and sustainable ironmaking sector. This article aims to offer a perspective on the iron and steel production process in Indonesia and the ASEAN region, while also proposing potential initiatives to develop an environmentally friendly and sustainable ironmaking process in Indonesia. This article will explain the position of iron and steel production in Indonesia within the ASEAN region, followed by a general explanation of ironmaking processes, such as blast furnaces, direct reduction iron, and the smelting reduction process. Lastly, this article will discuss the strategies for promoting environmentally sustainable ironmaking in Indonesia, including the utilization of biomass in ironmaking, the use of H2/NH3-based ironmaking, and the use of alternative raw materials for iron and steel manufacturing.