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Al-Tuwairqi Group Starts up Relocated Midrex DR Plant
06/26/2007 - Saudi Arabia's Al-Tuwairqi Group has successfully started up the first of two Midrex Direct Reduction Plants that were relocated from the former Corus Group facility in Mobile, Ala., to Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's Al-Tuwairqi Group has successfully started up the first of two relocated Midrex® Direct Reduction (DR) Plants in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Tuwairqi’s Direct Reduction Iron Factory is currently making about 57 tonnes/hour at 2% carbon and 93.5% metallization, according to Al-Tuwairqi. The plant will ramp up production towards a target of about 88 tonnes/hour in the next few months as additional iron oxide feed material is delivered
Al-Tuwairqi’s Direct Reduction Iron Factory is currently making about 57 tonnes/hour at 2% carbon and 93.5% metallization, according to Al-Tuwairqi. The plant will ramp up production towards a target of about 88 tonnes/hour in the next few months as additional iron oxide feed material is delivered
Al-Tuwairqi acquired the two Midrex DR Plants from Corus Group Plc. in December 2004. Each plant had an original production capacity of 400,000 tonnes/year. The Direct Reduction Iron Factory Midrex Plants, commonly referred to as modules, were relocated last year from Mobile, Ala.
“Based on my past experience in operating and managing Midrex DRI Plants, I was not surprised at the speed at which we were able to re-commission the plant,” said Mr. Zulfikar Uddin, Al-Tuwairqi’s DRI General Manager, who was responsible for relocation and commissioning of the plant. “I will be happy when we can increase production after the additional feed material is received.”
By replacing critical equipment and incorporating new process engineering enhancements, the rated capacity of the newly commissioned module has now been increased to 500,000 tonnes/year. Al-Tuwairqi's steel plant produces steel bar from billets produced in their National Steel Co., Ltd. meltshop, which began operations in 2004. The new DR plant will enable the Al-Tuwairqi Group to better manage raw material costs and ensure a supply of iron units.
Al-Tuwairqi Group signed a contract with Midrex Technologies in May 2006 to build a new Midrex MEGAMOD® Hot Direct Reduced Iron (HDRI)/Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI)/Cold Direct Reduced Iron (CDRI) Plant in Karachi, Pakistan.
This new DR plant capacity will be rated at 1.28 million tonnes per year, and initial production will be 100% CDRI. The plant will be configured to allow the possible addition of briquette machines in the future to produce Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI). The facility will employ many of Midrex’s latest innovations to minimize energy consumption and control product quality.
