This founder is making cheaper, cleaner steel

Laureen Meroueh, founder of Hertha Metals, is tackling the steel industry's significant carbon footprint with a new furnace design. Traditional steel production relies on coal and high-temperature blast furnaces, contributing roughly 7% of global carbon emissions. Meroueh’s innovation simplifies the process by converting iron ore into refined liquid steel in a single step while replacing coal with natural gas. This method reportedly cuts emissions by at least 50% and reduces production costs by 25%. Currently operating a pilot plant in Conroe, Texas, that produces one metric ton of steel per day, Hertha Metals has secured $20 million in funding. While the current process still utilizes fossil fuels, Meroueh designed the hardware to be compatible with future hydrogen-based systems. The company is now planning an expansion to a larger facility capable of producing 10,000 metric tons annually, aiming to provide a pragmatic, cost-effective transition toward greener industrial manufacturing.