Metalloinvest will build the world's largest hot briquette iron plant

Russia's Metalloinvest plans to build the world's largest hot briquette iron (HBI) plant to accelerate the transition to green steel production, said technology provider Midrex Technologies and engineering company Primetals will supply the new HBI Plant at Lebedinsky GOK. It will be located in Gubkin, western Russia, and will produce 2.08 million tons of hot briquette iron per year, making it the world's largest hot briquette iron plant, the company said.

The investment in the construction of the facility is estimated at more than $600 million and the facility is expected to be operational in the first half of 2025.

Hot briquette iron is a low-carbon feedstock used for steelmaking in electric furnaces and produces up to 50% less CO2 than steel produced using blast furnaces such as GHG Protocol Scope 1 and Scope 2.

“Hot briquette iron will strengthen Metalloinvest's dominant position in merchant supply to meet the growing demand for low CO2 metallics. "Our H2-ready technology is a step towards green steelmaking and carbon neutrality," said Stephen Montague, Midrex president and CEO.

The plant can be converted to use up to 100% hydrogen as a reducing agent, further reducing CO2 emissions.