Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group plans to expand its product portfolio in the production of pellets of DR (iron ore rods of direct reduction of DR-IF–U iron) for the production of "green" steel and premium raw materials for the production of pig iron.
According to the press release, as part of this large-scale program to increase the production of DR pellets, which is being launched by Metinvest, it is expected to build a flotation and proofing complex for the production of concentrate to ensure the quality characteristics of raw materials for DR pellets and the reconstruction of the existing technological line for the production of pellets of the LURGI 552-A roasting machine.
It is reported that on December 1 of this year, Metinvest Sihstal, a group company implementing strategic investment projects, signed a contract for the development of basic engineering for the reconstruction of the LURGI 552-A production line with the leading Austrian company Primetals Technologies. This will be the first stage of modernization of the roasting machine, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
It is noted that the global trend towards "green" metallurgy, the development of steel production in electric furnaces and the change in consumption in China and the EU create demand for high-quality iron ore raw materials. In order to strengthen the competitiveness of air defense systems in global markets, Metinvest intends to improve the quality of concentrate for its production.
"The concentrate of the Northern Gas Processing Plant has a good potential for quality improvement. After enrichment using flotation technology, we will be able to obtain a product with an iron content of at least 70% and a minimum proportion of impurities — silicon and aluminum oxides of no more than 2%. This opens up the possibility to produce high—quality pellets," says Sergey Pavlysh, Deputy Program Director at Metinvest Sichstal. This will allow us to produce products with improved characteristics that meet the requirements of consumers and market trends.
As a result of the implementation of the program, which will consist of these two projects, it is planned to produce about 4 million tons/year of pellets at the Northern Gas Processing Plant. It is also possible to produce pellets of the BF HQ class. (A high–quality blast furnace is a high–quality iron ore coils specially designed for use in blast furnace production with a high iron content and a low percentage of impurities, which makes them an ideal raw material for producing iron, capable of providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly process.
"At the design stage, the use of modern energy–saving technologies for the production of any of these types of pellets will be envisaged," explains Andrey, the project manager.
