The Green Steel Challenge

Alex Tancock is the CEO of InterContinental Energy, a global leader in large-scalegreen hydrogen development who has been at the forefront of the industry for morethan 10 years. Under his leadership, the company has pioneered a portfolio ofgroundbreaking projects, with its three flagship projects attracting partnerships fromsome of the largest names in energy.With backing from major institutional investors like GIC and Hy24, InterContinentalEnergy has established itself at the forefront of the green molecule sector. Thecompany’s innovative team and approach extends beyond project development, andinto giga scale enabling technology through its patented P2(H2)Node TM architecture.Alex's expertise and strategic insights make him a significant voice in the energy.

Steligence is ArcelorMittal’s science-backed construction philosophy that treats buildings as holistic, “living” entities—promoting integrated collaboration between architects, engineers, and developers to optimize flexibility, cost, and sustainability. It leverages a tailored suite of steel products and modular design to deliver measurable benefits like faster construction, lighter foundations, and reduced embodied carbon. Ultimately, Steligence accelerates demand for green steel by providing concrete design frameworks that enhance economic and environmental performance in buildings.

Berk Birand, Ph.D. is the co-founder and CEO of Fero Labs, an industrial AI software company helping global manufacturers cut costs and emissions through explainable machine learning. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Columbia University, Berk has published and patented research in IoT and network optimization. At Fero Labs, he leads the company’s mission of “Profitable Sustainability,” enabling factories to reduce waste, energy use, and CO₂ emissions while boosting efficiency and profitability. Under his leadership, Fero Labs has raised over $20M in funding, saved clients tens of millions of dollars, and prevented more than 100,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.

Meranti Green Steel, based in Singapore, is developing a 2.5 Mt/year HBI plant in Duqm, Oman, using renewable hydrogen to supply CBAM-compliant green iron to Europe by 2029. At the same time, it is building Southeast Asia’s first green flat steel mill in Rayong, Thailand, producing up to 2 Mt/year of low-carbon hot-rolled coil with DRI + EAF technology. Together, these projects create an integrated green steel value chain linking Middle Eastern hydrogen resources with Asian and European demand.

The World Steel Association (Worldsteel) is the global industry association representing steel producers, national and regional industry associations, and research institutes—together accounting for around 85% of global steel production. It serves as the sector’s central platform for industry data, sustainability frameworks, policy advocacy, technological benchmarking, and setting standards for health, safety, and decarbonisation.

As The Green Steel Challenge wraps up an incredible second season, hosts Astrid, James, and Mike take a look back at the biggest moments, key insights, and game-changing innovations that have shaped the conversation on the future of sustainable steel.From breakthrough technologies to bold industry commitments, this season has featured some of the most influential voices in the field.What have we learned? What challenges still lie ahead? And what’s next for the industry? Join us for a reflective discussion about the season’s biggest takeaways and a look at what’s coming in the world of green steel.

It is vital that GHG emissions are measured and assessed in a standard and meaningful manner. Today, we talk with Annie Heaton, who is CEO of ResponsibleSteel, an organisation aiming to establish such a standard with the global steel industry. She describes the complex process of emissions measurement and the diverse technical and political issues involved. We also have a fresh perspective on how the Green Steel Challenge is developing around the worldWe’re thrilled to have her join the conversation on building a more sustainable future.

There is much discussion about the Middle East becoming a regional or global hub for green iron (or steel) production, driven by inter alia, plentiful renewable and nuclear energy coupled to carbon capture opportunities. Here we chat with Michael Rion, Chief Commercial Officer of Emsteel, the largest steel producer in the UAE and one of the biggest in the region.  The discussion revolves around how this prediction is beginning to become reality at Emsteel. Other issues, such as how new steel products can reduce emissions, are also raised as part of how the UAE is approaching the Green Steel Challenge. This is indeed a peek into the future of global iron and steelmaking.

Accurately measuring or calculating GHG emissions in a standard manner is critical in any decarbonisation process. Today, we speak with Adina Renee Adler, Executive Director of the Global Steel Climate Council (GSSC), a non-profit organisation aiming to establish such a standard within the global steel industry. She describes the extremely tricky process of emissions measurement, the pitfalls involved and how this space might develop. We also have a fresh perspective on how the Green Steel Challenge is developing around the world.