BHP Group (ASX:BHP) said Tuesday it is modifying blast furnaces for lower carbon intensity steelmaking, with efficiency improvements and incremental process optimization able to deliver up to about 20% reductions in carbon dioxide emissions intensity.

The company said in a statement that a step change in abatement to about 80% reduction requires top gas recycling and carbon capture, with BHP having set a medium-term Scope 3 emissions goal to support the steel industry to decarbonize.

BHP said it is pursuing this goal by supporting multiple technology pathways, including the blast furnace, partnering with steelmakers to trial, de-risk, and scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage processes, while supporting studies on carbon dioxide transport and storage infrastructure and policy enablers.

The company's shares fell almost 1% in recent Tuesday trade.