The Green Steel Challenge

Our guest is Stefano Buono, physicist, entrepreneur, and CEO of Newcleo, a company developing next-generation reactors that run on recycled nuclear waste.We’ll dive into how advanced nuclear could provide clean, reliable power and heat for green steel – from hydrogen production to electrified plants – and what it would take to bring this from concept to reality over the next two decades.

We welcome from Brazil, Rogério Nogueira, Executive Vice President of Vale.Vale is one of the world’s largest producers of high-grade iron ore and nickel, headquartered in Brazil, with major operations across South America, Asia, and the Middle East. The company supplies a significant share of the global steel industry and plays a central role in the decarbonisation of iron and steel value chains.

Partner at World Steel Dynamics. World Steel Dynamics is a leading strategic information service that tracks, models, and forecasts steel industry trends — from pricing and trade to decarbonization and technology disruption. John joined us two years ago in Season 1 of the Green Steel Challenge, offering one of the most thoughtful takes on the structural changes shaping the steel industry.This time John would like to focus on scrap. Scrap is no longer a by-product — it’s the backbone of green steel. In this conversation, we’ll dive into where the scrap market is headed, who will win or lose in the global reshuffling, and what role policy, quality, and innovation will play in unlocking its full potential.

Pete Johnson, CEO and co-founder of Koloma, based in Denver, Colorado. Koloma is focused on exploring and developing geologic (or “natural”) hydrogen as a new low-carbon energy source.If Koloma succeeds, it could transform the economics and availability of hydrogen – this could be a game-changer for decarbonising heavy industry. We’ll discover what geologic hydrogen is, how it’s found, and what it could mean for the future of green steel. Pete is offering us a fascinating glimpse into the future of clean hydrogen and its potential to transform the way we think about energy and industrial decarbonisation.

T. V. Narendran, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Steel, based in Mumbai in India. Tata is one of the world’s most respected steel companies.We’ll discuss how Tata Steel is reimagining steelmaking through innovation, electrification, and new technologies.His perspective reminds us that the road to green steel is not just about new technology—it’s about rethinking systems, partnerships, and the economics of sustainability.