Green Steel Trials in MLIT Civil Engineering Projects

On July 31, 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s investigation of public works using green steel, it would conduct “green steel trial projects” in the civil engineering projects it commissions. The steel industry accounts for the largest share, approximately 35%, of CO₂ emissions from Japan’s manufacturing sector, making GX especially necessary.

Green steel is steel material produced with reduced CO₂ emissions during manufacturing. By using it on a trial basis in public works and investigating CO₂ emissions and other factors, including those from the manufacturing stage, the government will accumulate knowledge toward full-scale use in public works from 2030 onward.

Because the formation of a market for green steel remains insufficient, it is considered important for the government to take the lead in advancing public procurement, thereby creating initial demand and forming a market in which GX value is appropriately assessed.

It is considered important for the government to take the lead in advancing public procurement, thereby creating initial demand for green steel and forming a market in which GX value is appropriately assessed.

Toward full-scale use of green steel in public works from 2030 onward, knowledge about distribution and GX value will be accumulated through trial projects.

1. Background and overview states that, under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s “GX Demand Creation and Carbon Pricing Operations Project,” green steel will be used on a trial basis in civil engineering projects commissioned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and CO₂ emissions and other factors, including those from the manufacturing stage, will be investigated. The target materials include steel products such as steel sheet piles and thick bridge plates, and the scope of trial applications will be expanded sequentially as the investigations are conducted.

2. Direct-administered trial projects (examples) lists the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau’s “National Route 5 Niki Town Ginzan Ohashi Superstructure Central Construction Project,” the Chubu Regional Development Bureau’s “Fiscal 2025 Umomori Misato Drainage Channel Improvement Project” and “Fiscal 2025 Route 42 Matsusaka-Taki BP Asada Viaduct Steel Superstructure Construction Project,” the Chugoku Regional Development Bureau’s “Fiscal 2025 Fukuyama Road Akasaka-higashi Pedestrian Bridge Steel Superstructure and Substructure Construction Project,” and the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau’s “Fiscal 2025–2027 Aki Road Kurotori Viaduct Superstructure A1–P2 Construction Project” and “Fiscal 2025–2027 Aki Road Kurotori Viaduct Superstructure P7–A2 Construction Project.” The target regions are Hokkaido, Gifu Prefecture, Mie Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Kochi Prefecture; these are examples as of July 24, and additional trial projects to be conducted this fiscal year are scheduled to be added sequentially.

3. Reference materials state that green steel was positioned as one of the major products and technologies in the Japan Growth Strategy approved by the Cabinet this month, and that the roadmap explicitly identifies “creating initial domestic demand for green steel, including procurement of green steel in public works” as a measure. In addition, the “MLIT Civil Engineering Decarbonization Action Plan” dated July 31, 2026, presents a roadmap for construction materials, specifically steel.