Metal production have long been using carbon sources as both reducing agents and energy sources.
Consequently, the global extractive metal sector contributes significantly to greenhouse gas
emissions, accounting for approximately 9.5 per cent. Hydrogen gas offers as a promising ecofriendly
alternative to carbon in metallurgical processes, serving as both a reductant and energy
supplier with a by-product being only water vapour. However, the implementation of molecular
hydrogen faces certain challenges related to the thermodynamics and kinetics of metal oxide
reduction. In addressing these challenges, researchers have explored the application of hydrogen
plasma, generated by subjecting molecular hydrogen to high energy to produce atomic, ionic and
excited hydrogen species. Hydrogen plasma offers thermodynamic and kinetic advantages over
molecular hydrogen and carbon-based reductants, exhibiting lower standard Gibbs free energy of
reaction and activation energy. Therefore, hydrogen plasma can produce metal in fewer steps,
process any oxide feed and feed size and even be used to refine metals. Despite these advantages,
challenges exist in utilising hydrogen plasma in extractive metallurgy, including electricity costs,
potential reverse reactions and industrial-scale implementation. This study provides a mini review of
prior research on hydrogen plasma for metal oxides reduction, particularly iron oxide, as well as
state-of-the-art techniques for its use in extractive metallurgy applications by mentioning several
reactor types. Future prospects and scale-up possibilities of the hydrogen plasma in extractive
metallurgy will also be presented.