Posted on 28 Jun 2017
The 2.0 million metric ton per year Midrex hot briquetted iron (HBI) plant at voestalpine Texas LLC passed its performance test in early February of 2017. This Midrex HBI plant is both the largest single module of its kind in the world as well as North America's first HBI merchant facility. voestalpine Texas LLC is the local presence in South Texas of the voestalpine Group and a 100% subsidiary of voestalpine Steel Division. The performance guarantee test began on January 29, 2017. Measurements included HBI production, HBI physical and chemical characteristics, the plant's key natural gas and electricity consumption, water quality measurements and environmental / emissions impacts. The performance guarantee test was successfully completed on February 11, 2017 and achieved 100% of tested performance guarantee parameters during the first attempt of the performance guarantee test. In addition the performance test of the fines recycling plant engineered by Primetals Technologies was successfully completed on February 10, 2017. Primetals Technologies and Midrex were responsible for engineering, supply of bulk materials, mechanical and electrical equipment and advisory services for the Midrex plant. The Midrex plant produces high-quality HBI from iron ore pellets using the Midrex direct reduction process and through the use of natural gas significantly reduces the carbon footprint of the voestalpine Group. This is an important step in the achievement of the voestalpine Group's ambitious internal energy efficiency and climate protection objectives. The price of natural gas in the USA is about one-quarter of the price in Europe. Around half of the planned two million tons of HBI will be supplied to the Austrian steel plants in Linz and Donawitz. The other half will be sold to partners interested in a supply over the long term. MIDREX is a registered trademark of Kobe Steel, Ltd. Midrex direct reduction HBI plant of voestalpine near the city of Corpus Christi, Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. The largest single module of this type worldwide was built by Primetals Technologies and Midrex Technologies, Inc. and achieved the performance guarantee test parameters in February 2017 (Photo courtesy of voestalpine).
