
NeoSmelt Project
Collaborating to accelerate steel value chain decarbonisation.
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FID targeted for 2026
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operations expected to begin in 2028
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tonnes of molten iron produced per year
NeoSmelt Project
The proposed NeoSmelt project (Project), to be located in Kwinana, Western Australia, is a pilot plant aiming to prove Pilbara iron ore can be used to produce lower-carbon1 emissions molten iron using direct reduced iron and electric smelting furnace (DRI-ESF) technology.
The pilot plant is expected to produce up to 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes of molten iron a year. It is planned to initially use natural gas to reduce iron ore to DRI, but once operational, the project aims to also use lower-carbon2 emissions hydrogen to reduce iron ore.
If successful, the Project has the potential to open a pathway to near-zero emissions steelmaking using Pilbara iron ore and support the longevity of Australia's iron ore industry.3

Funding contributions
The Project parties selected the Kwinana Industrial Area as the proposed pilot plant location, and welcomes the announcement by the Western Australian Government4 to contribute A$75 million to support the project, including for project infrastructure in the Kwinana industrial area.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has also announced A$19.8 million in funding to support a Front-End Engineering Design study for the Project.5 Final investment decision for the pilot plant is targeted for 2026, with operations expected to begin in 2028.
Woodside is an equal equity participant and preferred energy supplier for the proposed project.6
Participating interests
Participant | NeoSmelt Project |
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BlueScope (Manager) | 20% |
Rio Tinto | 20% |
BHP | 20% |
Woodside | 20% |
Mitsui Iron Ore Development | 20% |
Acknowledgement
This Project received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of ARENA’s Industrial Transformation Stream Program.
Disclaimer
The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government, and the Australian Government does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.
Footnotes
1. Woodside uses this term to describe the characteristic of having lower levels of associated potential GHG emissions when compared to historical and/or current conventions or analogues, for example relating to an otherwise similar resource, process, production facility, product or service, or activity. When applied to Woodside's strategy, please see the definition of lower-carbon portfolio in Woodside Glossary.
2. Refer to footnote 1.
3. ‘Near zero emissions’ for steelmaking’ is 0.40 tonnes of CO2-e per tonne of crude steel for 100 per cent ore-based production (no scrap), as defined by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and implemented in Responsible Steel International Standard V2.0 (‘near zero’ performance level 4 threshold). IEA (2022), Achieving Net Zero Heavy Industry Sectors in G7 Members, IEA, Paris, License: CC BY 4.0, which also describes the boundary for the emissions intensity calculation (including in relation to upstream emissions).
4. Nation's largest ironmaking electric smelting furnace set for WA | Western Australian Government
6. Energy supply may include hydrogen, natural gas and electricity.
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