Global metals and mining giant Rio Tinto Group said on Thursday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shougang Group, one of the world's top 10 steel producers, to jointly promote research, design and implementation of low-carbon solutions for the steel value chain.

The agreement's focus areas include low-carbon sintering technology, blast furnace and basic oxygen furnace optimization, and carbon capture and utilization, it said.

This deal with Shougang underlines Rio Tinto's strategic commitment to partner with customers on steel decarbonization pathways and to invest in technologies that could deliver reductions in steelmaking carbon intensity, said the company in a release.

Steel is a vital material for economic growth and low-carbon infrastructure and Rio Tinto wants to play a strong role as an industry partner to support the decarbonization of steel, said Rio Tinto Chief Commercial Officer Alf Barrios.

"We are delighted to be able to extend our partnership with Shougang to jointly work toward our shared vision of a 'greener' steel value chain," he said.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn