DRI plant destined for India

India – A new direct reduced iron (DRI) facility, which will have a nominal production capacity of approximately 1.2 million tonnes of hot and cold DRI per year, is to be built at JSW Steel in Vijayanagar, Toranagallu, Karnataka State, India. In million Euro terms, the order value is a low three-digit figure while start-up of the new facility is scheduled for mid-2013.

Two Corex C-2000 modules with a nominal production capacity of 2400 tonnes of hot metal per day have been in operation at JSW Steel since 1999. Until now, the Corex export gas has been used for the generation of electrical energy in a company-owned power station. Given the continually increasing demand for steel in India, JSW Steel decided to utilise this gas for the production of additional iron.

The project scope includes: process engineering; the supply of equipment, electrics and automation; supervision of erection, start-up and commissioning; and training services. The DR plant will consist of a 7.15-metre-diameter Midrex shaft furnace with gas-recycling and treatment facilities. It will be equipped with Siemens compressors for gas conveying and recirculation, and Linde gas-treatment equipment for the removal of carbon dioxide from the process gas and for gas heating. This will represent the second Corex gas-based Midrex DR plant installation. Its design will be based on experience gained from a similar plant configuration that has been successfully operating at the AM Saldanha Steel Works in South Africa since 2000, it is noted.