The Brazilian miner, Vale, and direct reduction technology developer, Midrex, have closed a cooperation deal towards technical alternatives allowing for the use of iron ore briquettes in direct reduction plants.
The technology developed by Vale to produce briquettes uses agglomerants to improve the mechanical resistance of the product, allowing for the curing at lower temperature, resulting in lower emissions linked to gases of the greenhouse effect.
When compared to conventional DRI grade pellets, the production of briquettes generates 80 percent less CO2 emissions and reduces production costs and even investment costs, as briquettes plants are far less capital intensive than pelletizing plants.
The direct reduction technology produces direct reduction iron (DRI), the base raw material for the steel production in electric arc furnaces (EAF).
DRI can also be used in blast furnaces to complement and even replace the use of iron ore, reducing the consumption of coke and ultimately reducing CO2 emissions.
According to Vale’s CEO, Eduardo Bartolomeo, “more than a technical agreement, the deal is the start of a new partnership that will have a crucial role in the expansion of the briquette technology to different markets."