Prof. Akbar presented the concept of decarbonization as a strategic solution to reduce carbon emissions in the metallurgical industry, particularly in the iron and steel sectors. He highlighted various approaches that can be implemented in the industry to support decarbonization processes.

“This is the right time for the extractive metallurgy sector to play a significant role in the decarbonization process. Therefore, there is a need for the development of new technologies and approaches to support the decarbonization of metallurgical processes,” he said.

Prof. Akbar also discussed innovative research on how hydrogen can serve as a clean fuel in extractive metallurgical processes. However, he noted that green hydrogen technology is still used at a small scale due to challenges such as high energy use and production costs, as well as the difficulties associated with transport and storage.

Students gained insights into the current development of hydrogen plasma projects around the world. Prof. Akbar explained that hydrogen plasma can reduce the amount of oxides produced, thereby lowering the energy required to reduce various oxides. However, this technology is still facing challenges due to the costs and technical requirements for production and maintenance.

The guest lecture was attended by more than 180 students from the Metallurgical Engineering and Chemical Engineering Study Programs.

Reporter: Bintang Prasetya Fernandika (Metallurgical Engineering, 2022)
Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2024)
Editor: Kezia Hosana (Chemical Engineering, 2022)