On the morning of April 8, the launching ceremony of the "Vale-Central South University Joint Laboratory for Low-carbon and Hydrogen Metallurgy (Vale-CSU Joint Laboratory for Low-carbon and Hydrogen Metallurgy)" jointly established by Brazil's Vale Company and Central South University was held in Changsha. Kang Ruiru (Rogerio Carneiro), Director of Vale Iron Ore Product Development and Furnace Solution and Dean of Ferrous Metal Research Institute, Xie Xue, President of Vale China, Dauter Oliveira, Managing Director of Asia Development, Song Qingshi, General Manager of Technology Marketing Department in China, Zeng Lixin, Deputy Director of Hunan Science and Technology Department, Zhou Fan, Deputy Secretary of Hunan Xiangjiang New District Party Working Committee and Deputy Secretary of Yuelu District Committee, Academician of Hunan Xiangjiang University Li Jiancheng, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Qiu Guanzhou, Gui Weihua, Jiang Tao, Changsha Science and Technology Bureau, Yuelushan University Science and Technology City Management Committee and relevant units of the school attended the ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Guo Xueyi, Vice President of Central South University.

Vale is one of the world's largest producers of iron ore and nickel. The company also produces iron ore pellets, copper, platinum group metals, gold, silver and cobalt. It is a long-term partner of China. The "Vale-Central South University Joint Laboratory of Low Carbon and Hydrogen Metallurgy" (hereinafter referred to as the "Joint Laboratory") is the fifth and sixth China-Brazil High-level Coordination and Cooperation Committee (COSBAN) in November 2021 and May 2022. One of the important results of the meeting is also one of the first major projects unveiled at the opening ceremony of the city of Changsha to build a global R & D center in September 2023. In February 2023, Vale donated US $5.81 million to Central South University for the construction of a joint laboratory, including a five-story test building with a total area of 3000 square meters and supporting scientific research equipment. The joint laboratory focuses on low carbon and hydrogen metallurgy technology, and carries out related basic and applied research. At present, five functional areas such as iron ore sorting and pretreatment, clean block making, direct reduction, comprehensive utilization of secondary resources and preparation of functional materials, and three pilot bases such as low-carbon sintering, low-carbon pellets and hydrogen-based direct reduction have been formed.

At the ceremony, Li Jiancheng said that Central South University will give full play to the advantages of disciplines and talents, fully support the construction of the joint laboratory, and empower the joint laboratory to produce more results, have a greater impact, and play a greater role. Build a leading domestic and world-class national innovation platform with distinctive characteristics, advanced equipment and scientific management, it has become a model for deepening cooperation between Pakistan and China in the field of scientific and technological innovation, a "highland" for talent gathering and scientific and technological innovation, and provides strong scientific and technological support for the green transformation and development of the iron and steel industry. At the same time, it is expected that the two parties will take the launch of the joint laboratory as a new starting point, give full play to their respective advantages, further expand cooperation areas, innovate cooperation models, and upgrade cooperation levels, and jointly make new and greater contributions to promoting the green, low-carbon and sustainable development of the industry.

On behalf of Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department, Zeng Lixin congratulated the launch of the joint laboratory. He hopes that the two sides will take this opportunity to give full play to their respective characteristics and advantages, focus on the adjustment of energy structure, the development of hydrogen energy industry and the low-carbon development situation of the global iron and steel industry under the goal of "double carbon", strive to build a hydrogen metallurgy technology system, focus on breaking through the bottleneck of key common technologies in low-carbon iron and steel smelting, accelerate the research and development of low-carbon cutting-edge technologies, cultivate innovative new engineering talents, actively promote the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements, quickly seize the forefront of low-carbon development of the steel industry, and provide strong momentum for the further improvement of the technical level of the steel industry in my country and the world. Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Department will fully support the construction and development of the joint laboratory with efficient and high-quality management services.

The launch of the joint laboratory is an important milestone on Vale's path to sustainable mining leadership, as part of its efforts to achieve Scope 3 (indirect emissions from activities up and down the value chain) emissions reduction targets. China is speeding up the development of new quality productivity, and the launch of the joint laboratory is at the right time. It is hoped that the joint laboratory, relying on the faculty and scientific research strength of Central South University, can effectively promote the research in the field of low-carbon and hydrogen metallurgy, so as to help China's iron and steel industry develop new quality productivity faster and realize green transformation earlier.

The launch ceremony announced the establishment of a joint laboratory working committee composed of 12 technical experts from Central South University and Vale. Among them, Kang Ruiru was appointed honorary director. Professor Zhu Deqing from the School of Resource Processing and Bioengineering of Central South University was appointed as the director. Professor Pan Jian, Associate Professor Guo Zhengqi, Associate Professor Yang Congcong and Song Qingshi, General Manager of China Region of Vale Technology Marketing Department, Central South University, served as deputy directors.

Subsequently, the participants visited the joint laboratory and unveiled the laboratory. From now on, the joint laboratory will be open to researchers in the mining and steel industries.