Originally the Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER), the award-winning BHP Centre for Sustainable Steelmaking Research (SSR) occupies the site of the former BHP Newcastle Technology Centre. The Newcastle Technology Centre (originally Central Research Laboratories) was established in 1957 as an iron and steel research facility. The Centre researched diverse topics across mineral exploration, mining, pyro and hydro metallurgy.
Over the past fifteen years the University of Newcastle, through NIER, and BHP have worked in partnership to progress the Centre’s strategic activities, focused on defining the link between fundamental iron ore and metallurgical coal properties and their performance in conventional ironmaking process. Our research focus has now shifted to the challenge of production of near zero emission steel.
Iron and steelmaking accounts for a significant proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions. Both miners and ironmakers are currently striving to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to meet Paris Climate targets consistent with a 1.5°C temperature rise. A key focus of Centre research is to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions from ironmaking using Australian iron ores and coking coals.
Our research aims to understand the fundamental mechanisms driving the conventional and modified low emission blast furnace ironmaking processes, as well as de-risking emerging alternate processes such as the direct reduced iron electric smelting furnace (DRI-ESF) process, and direct iron electrolysis. We aim to understand and optimise the use of Australian iron ore and metallurgical coal in these processes, including the critical sintering, cokemaking, direct reduction steps.
In 2026, the BHP Centre for Sustainable Steelmaking Research was nationally recognised at the Australian Financial Review (AFR) Higher Education Awards, receiving the UniSuper Think Great Award.
The award recognises the impact of the Centre’s longstanding partnership between the University of Newcastle and BHP, and its contribution to advancing lower-emissions pathways for the global iron and steel industry.
Read more about the award here.
For more information about the centre, please visit the SSR Website.
BHP SSR Sustainable Steelmaking Program wins National Unisuper Think Great Australian Financial Review award, 2026.
