According to the latest report from the World Steel Association (WSA), Iran has successfully maintained its position as the world’s 10th largest steel producer. Despite global challenges, Iran’s steel sector has demonstrated resilience, driven by continued investment in new technologies and improved production efficiencies.

On November 28, 2024, the new VPSA (vacuum pressure swing adsorption) oxygen generation unit built by PKU Pioneer for Anhui Changjiang Steel Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Changjiang Steel) was completed after more than 2 months of intensive construction. Following 2 days of debugging and connection with the existing liquid oxygen supply pipeline system, the VPSA oxygen equipment was officially put into operation on November 30 to supply cost-effective enriched oxygen (12,500Nm3/h, 80%) to 2 blast furnaces (1080m³ and 1250m³), which will significantly reduce the client’s molten iron production costs and enhance its competitiveness in the highly competitive steel market.

In November 2024, PKU Pioneer reached a cooperation agreement with GPG Company in the U.S. for a carbon monoxide purification project from 23,350Nm³/h syngas. The owner will use PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) technology to separate high-purity carbon monoxide (≥98.8%) from natural gas converted syngas for DMC (dimethyl carbonate) production.

In October 2024, PKU Pioneer entered into a cooperation agreement with a well-known glass manufacturer in Chongqing to design and set up a VPSA oxygen generation system for its 50,000-ton-per-year pharmaceutical glass bottle production line. The VPSA oxygen plant, with a capacity of 1,615Nm³/h and a purity of 93%, will provide stable, flexible, and cost-effective oxygen for the oxy-fuel combustion process in glass furnaces, which will help the user optimize glassmaking processes, reduce production costs and improve glass product quality and manufacturing efficiency, to further enhance its market competitiveness.

Currently, the 2 most widely used carbon accounting methods in the steel industry are developed by the World Steel Association (the LCI and CO₂ Method) and by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which includes several different standards. The World Steel Association's current carbon emissions data collection process (2022) includes data from over 220 steelmakers worldwide. These steel mills collectively produce approximately 485 million tons of steel, representing 25% of global steel production.

In China, solid-phase sodium silicate production mainly uses heat storage type full-gas horseshoe flame tank furnaces. In 2020, the successful commissioning of China’s first 80m² oxy-fuel kiln by a Shandong-based company, producing 200 tons per day of sodium silicate marks a shift toward a new model where natural gas is utilized as fuel and oxygen-enriched combustion is incorporated.