⎪ Minerals processing and materials handling ⎪
Metso opens Circored pre-reduction DRI pilot plant Metso has inaugurated its Circored™ pre-reduction pilot plant in Frankfurt, Germany. This investment reflects Metso’s commitment to advancing low-carbon technologies and supporting the global transition to fossil-free steelmaking.
T he Circored™ pilot plant, which is based on Metso’s proprietary technology, enables continuous pre- reduction of iron ore using hydrogen as the sole reducing agent. It integrates pre- heating, reduction, gas cleaning and recircu- lation systems for hydrogen and dust, and features electric heaters to support near-zero carbon operation. “This pilot plant is a significant step in demon - strating the readiness of Circored technology,” saysParizatPandey,Director,DirectReducedIron (DRI) at Metso. “It allows us to validate process parameters and support our customers in their transition to low-carbon steelmaking”. In the Circored pilot plant, a wide range of iron ore types can be tested, providing process data for engineeringfuturecommercial-scaleplants.Italso helps define the operating window for different
Metro’s Circored is the only 100% hydrogen- based process for iron ore reduction that has proven its functionality and performance in an industrial-scale demonstration plant.
ore qualities. The Circored direct reduction process can also be integrated with Metso’s DRI Smelting Furnace or other smelting technologies. Circored process benefits include: • No fossil fuels are required for the reduction of iron ore fines. • Energy and the costly pelletizing step are eliminated. • The HBI or DRI products can be fed directly into an electric arc furnace, improving en- ergy efficiency. • Performance has been proven in an indus- trial-scale demonstration plant using an established fluidised bed process. BothCircoredandDRISmeltingFurnacetech- nologies are part of the Metso Plus offering, which provides sustainable value to customers through technologies that have a significant impact on the
environment and people. “By sharing knowledge and combining forces with customers, partners and communities, we can accelerate sustainable development in our industries,” concludes Pandey. www.metso.com The ribbon cutting for Metso’s Circored™ Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) pre-reduction pilot plant in Frankfurt, Germany.
November-December 2025 • MechChem Africa ¦ 27
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