According to announcement on Monday, the plant, a project of Metalloinvest’s Mikhailovsky GOK and Russian holdings group USM, will produce 2.08 million metric tons annually. 

“This is the start of an important project for the Russian metals and mining industry that will further strengthen our country's leadership in the global market for HBI, the base product for the green metallurgy of the future. One of the world's largest HBI plants will be built and commissioned in close technological cooperation with Metalloinvest,” said Ivan Streshinsky, USM chief executive. 

Both USM and Metalloinvest are controlled by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. 

The plant will feature a 7.15-m-diameter Midrex shaft furnace, a 19-bay reformer with 280-mm MA-1 reformer tubes and low-NOx burners. It also will be equipped with a hot fines recycling system. 

Midrex and Primetals Technologies will be responsible for engineering and supply of mechanical and electrical equipment, the plant’s steel structure, piping, ductwork, and employee training. 

“This project will include all the latest technological features and will be one of the largest and most modern HBI plants in the world,” said Etsuro Hirai, chief executive of Primetals Technologies Austria. “That Primetals Technologies and Midrex have been selected by Mikhailovsky HBI as the technology supplier underscores trust in expertise of our specialists and in our solutions,” he added.   
Start-up of the plant is expected in the first half of 2024.