Tembo Steels Advances Green Initiatives in Steel Making
For over 2 decades, Tembo Steels has been at the top of the steel manufacturing industry in Uganda. The company went from TMT bar production to green steel.
Tembo Steels became Uganda’s only primary steel production provider, doing its best to avoid the impurities present in scrap-based steel. With green steelmaking, protecting the environment becomes a priority, especially considering that steel production is currently responsible for around 10% of global carbon emissions and around 30% of emissions from industry.
A New, Greener Approach to Steel Making
In steelmaking, Blast Furnace is the main method used for production, making for about 70% of the world’s total steel production share. Meanwhile, scrap recycling, the electric furnace method, is the world’s secondary steel production technique, accounting for about 23% of global steel production.
However, the Blast Furnace Route leads to plenty of carbon emissions, actually being the most intensive method in this regard compared to other routes. It leads to 2.2 – 2.4 tons of CO2 per ton of steel. Meanwhile, the EF route has a 0.6 ton of CO2 emission.
But now, a greener approach, known as the DRI or Direct Reduced Iron route, takes the lead. This has the lowest carbon emission in steel, leading to pure steel production while being a nature-friendly alternative.
Tembo Steels is a company that aims to reduce carbon emissions by adopting greener steel production methods. In fact, the firm managed to eliminate carbon emissions by up to 70% over the years.
How Tembo Steels Works Towards a Greener Future
Tembo Steels takes advantage of the DRI/scrap-based route and uses renewable energy to produce steel, ensuring 100% CO2 intensity reduction. The firm got rid of billet reheating as well. Tembo Steels cut down carbon emissions by up to 70% with the help of the EF route and with their DRI plant. But that’s not all.
Tembo Steels also uses level two automation. With the help of digitalization, the company is more efficient and productive, enhancing raw material use and minimizing carbon emissions. Also, they use yield improvement, which employs fewer resources, less processing time, and less energy. This also leads to lower CO2 emissions.
Tembo Steels Is the Only Primary Steel Producer in Uganda
Tembo Steels has two operational plants, and with its DRI focus, it is Uganda’s only primary steel production provider. On top of bringing outstanding product quality due to eliminating steel impurities, the company also brings more product diversity to the continent. It produces HRC, structural steel, and multiple other substrates.
“We are the only primary steel producer in the country, which gives us an inherent advantage in steel purity,” says Sanjay Awasthi, CEO of Tembo Steels Uganda. “Primary steel production, using virgin iron ore, avoids residual elements found in scrap melting. These residual elements can weaken overall quality, affecting strength and ductility. Our position as the sole primary steel manufacturer ensures a superior product.”
By 2050, the global vision is to reduce CO2 emissions to 0.6 tons. Tembo Steels is on the way to making this possible, joining countries like Italy and the USA in protecting the environment with greener processes.
