Reduction of CO₂ emissions has been discussed using newly developed precise model based on carbon and energy balance in large-scale integrated steel works as a whole. Although there are various means to decrease reducing agent rate (RAR) at blast furnace, preferable way to reduce CO₂ emissions must be chosen considering energy balance in whole steel works. Reduction of RAR at blast furnace together with energy saving at downstream processes is important. Maintaining competitiveness in global steel market must be also considered. Simple reduction of RAR such as improvement of shaft efficiency at blast furnace without energy saving at downstream processes leads to increase in production cost because of increment of purchased energy. Injection of waste plastics and carbon neutral materials such as biomass is better alternative.
Regarding blast furnace operation, under the use of inferior raw materials such as low strength coke as well as high productivity condition, there are many problems to be solved to achieve low RAR operation. It has been reported that drastic change of lower part situation such as increase in coke degradation and accumulation of coke fine causes operation instability at actual blast furnace. Therefore, to attain stable low RAR operation, it is confirmed that new control measures based on fundamental researches to solve various problems should be developed.