BHP Group Limited, along with consortium partners BlueScope, Rio Tinto, Woodside Energy, and Mitsui Iron Ore Development, has welcomed a significant boost from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which has committed A$19.8 million to support the NeoSmelt project. This consortium-led initiative aims to develop a pilot plant for lower-emissions steel production in Western Australia. The funding will aid a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study to explore using Pilbara iron ore to produce lower-carbon iron, potentially paving the way for alternative steelmaking processes. The project is currently in the feasibility phase, with a final investment decision anticipated in 2026. This initiative also benefits from a previous A$75 million contribution from the Western Australian Government, highlighting a collaborative effort to advance decarbonisation in the steel industry.