[Corporate Strategy] Nippon Steel Advances EAF, Hydrogen Direct Reduction and Hydrogen Injection in Parallel — Multi-Track Technology Development Accelerates in 2026

Nippon Steel is pursuing several technologies in parallel under its Carbon Neutral Vision 2050, including large-scale electric arc furnace (EAF) production of high-grade steel, hydrogen-based direct reduction, and hydrogen injection into blast furnaces. In March 2026, its pilot blast furnace at Kimitsu confirmed a 45% reduction in CO₂ emissions through hydrogen reduction, and its Hasaki R&D centre began trial operation of hydrogen-based direct reduced iron production. We note that the passage referring to preparations for "third-party verification arrangements ahead of full EU CBAM taxation" is not sufficiently corroborated by the primary sources reviewed for this article, and we have treated the relationship to CBAM only as one aspect of the external market environment encouraging the company's shift toward low-carbon steel.