On June 6, 2016, BHP Billiton and Peking University (PKU) signed a US$7.37 million donation agreement at Peking University to support PKU conducting a research on Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) for steel production in China. Together with other leading organizations, the three-year agreement will identify the key policy, technical and economic issues of CCUS deployment in the industrial sector, with a particular focus on the iron and steel industries.

Dr. LI Yansong, Vice President of Peking University, chaired the ceremony. Mr. Andrew Mackenize, CEO of PHP Billiton, H.E. Jan Adams, Australian Ambassador to China, Prof. LIN Jianhua, President of Peking University, Mr. LI Junfeng, Director General of China's National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, Prof. ZHANG Dongxiao, Dean of College of Engineering, DENG Ya, Secretary General of PKU Education Foundation, Professor XU Jintao, Associate Dean of National School of Development, JIN Li, Associate Dean and Professor LEI Ming of Guanghua School of Management, LIU Shusen, director of the Australian Research Center at PKU, and Professor FU Jun, Academic Dean of the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, attended the event.

BHP Billiton Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Mackenzie, said the project is part of the Company’s support for the development of low emissions technology across multiple sectors. “The application of carbon capture, use and storage may prove to be important to reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emitted by the steel sector in China and elsewhere. As a major metallurgical coal and iron ore supplier, BHP Billiton has a role in working with our customers, industry and research institutions in China. The work to be undertaken through this agreement is a necessary first step to get the fundamentals right and accelerate CCUS development and deployment,” he emphasized

President LIN Jianhua said that nowadays the world faces new and complex challenges with Energy, environment and climate issues. It is imperative that leading corporations, universities and institutions strengthen cooperation and jointly tackle the problems. He spoke highly of the partnership as PKU’s latest example in seeking solutions to challenges faced by the country and the world. “We recognize the importance of international collaboration in addressing the global challenge of climate change. This new project will push forward the collaborative work on many fronts, help support China’s carbon reduction, as well as promote friendship and cooperation between China and Australia,” he said.

Director LI Junfeng, said “Last year, the Paris Agreement opened a new chapter in the global response to climate change, putting forward an intensified greenhouse gas emissions control target. This target requires further research into the development potential and supporting factors of low carbon technologies such as CCUS and renewable energies, both of which can help promote China’s transition to a low carbon economy.”

Dean ZHANG Dongxiao said that in this cooperation, Peking University will promote the progress of the project from different perspectives of technology, policy and economy. It will be a model for interdisciplinary cooperation and will lead to a collaborative effort between industry, academia and research. He hoped the project could provide deep insight research in CCUS in the China’s steel industry and make greater contributions to environmental protection and climate change mitigation.

Mr. Andrew Mackenzie, President LIN Jianhua and Ms. DENG Ya jointly signed the donation agreement. On behalf of Peking University, President LIN presented the Peking University Outstanding Education Contribution Award to BHP Billiton.