Tata Steel has begun tests for injecting hydrogen into its blast furnace, to cut the carbon emissions of production.

The Indian company is hopeful the pilot will show that metallurgical coke usage can be reduced by using the gas.

It released a statement reading: “This is the first time in the world that such a large quantity of hydrogen gas is being continuously injected in a blast furnace.”

The firm projects that injecting hydrogen will see a 10% reduction in the carbon emissions per tonnes of crude steel made at its plant in Jamshedpur.

Tata Steel has set a net zero target of 2045, far ahead of India’s overall goal for 2070.