Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform
RMI requests information from North American steelmakers seeking to produce low-emissions steel.
RMI is building a Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform to aggregate buyer demand for low-emissions steel towards an initial commercial-scale purchase in North America. By bringing together committed buyers and leading producers, we hope to help enable deployment of a first-of-its-kind, commercial-scale low emissions steel facility in North America.
RMI has opened a Request for Information (RFI) process on behalf of a group of committed, low-emission steel buyers to learn what North American steelmakers need to make this happen. We are currently looking for suppliers that may be positioned to respond, to help shape emissions thresholds, contract structure, volume requirements, delivery parameters, financing needs, potential production pathways, and certification options. The RFI responses will inform the subsequent development of a Request for Proposal that will be issued by the buyers’ group to secure low-emissions steel offtake agreements in North America. You can access the RFI here.
Your feedback is key to making the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform work and to creating a vibrant market for North American-made low-emissions steel. Please submit your RFI responses using this format via email to Lachlan Wright (lwright@rmi.org) or Chathurika Gamage (cgamage@rmi.org) by the 31st December.
Founding Members
Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the goal of the Sustainable Steel Buyers Platform (SSBP)?
The SSBP, launched by RMI, is the central platform for buyers to accelerate near-zero emissions steel offtake. Our goal is to advance the market and enable the investment case for breakthrough clean technologies.
We aim to convene committed buyers in North America in a collaborative procurement process to advance the deployment of a first-of-a-kind near-zero emissions steel facility. We believe a group of ambitious buyers representing a collectively large offtake and aligned on requirements including emissions performance can move quickly to initiate facility level change.
How will the North America SSBP process work?
The buyers will work together in a two-stage process: first a request-for-information (RFI) followed by a request-for-proposal (RFP).
The RFI will seek input from steel producers on timelines, technology, and emissions thresholds for near-zero steel, as well as preference for structuring a potential green premium over a diverse range of steel products. The RFP will then confirm the steelmakers proposed projects and associated green premium.
Will the SSBP purchase steel as a group?
No. The buyers will work collaboratively through the RFI and RFP up to the point of price discovery on the green premium. Following this, the buyers will then negotiate individual offtake agreements based on the collectively discovered green premium but also extend to the normal offtake arrangements (e.g., steel specifications, pricing, etc.).
Why are buyers working together through the SSBP?
Buyers are working collaboratively under the SSBP to achieve sufficient demand volume (via offtake agreements) that would enable a steelmaker to make the large capital investment needed to transition or build a new near-zero emissions facility. In doing so, the buyers also aim to put forward a common definition of near-zero emissions steel that can help steelmakers design their emissions reduction investment strategy.
Who can join the SSBP?
We welcome all ambitious buyers committed to establishing offtake for near zero emissions steel to deliver on their emissions reduction targets. The buyers group will be composed of purchasers with significant annual steel consumption in North America (i.e., >10,000 t/year) who are able to commit to purchasing steel several years ahead of delivery.
The North American RFI and RFP will be open to all steel producers (and their upstream & technology partners) to submit a response.
How is the SSBP related to other buyer group initiatives for steel (First Movers Coalition, SteelZero)?
Amplifying clean demand signals is important for the energy transition. The SSBP is complementary to efforts that focus on gaining commitments and pledges towards lower emissions steel, by providing the next step towards offtake for buyers. We are working closely with these groups to ensure the SSBP process can help deliver on corporate targets and pledges.