Voestalpine’s hydrogen-based fine-ore reduction (HYFOR) pilot plant was commissioned by Mitsubishi’s Primetals Technologies’ (Primetal) in April this year and has begun testing decarbonized steel production in Donawitz, Austria.
Primetal and voestalpine will continue to run tests over the next two years using different iron ore grades, according to Primetals’ statement on Monday.
The Linz-Donawitz site has successfully processed 800kg of iron ore into direct reduced iron (DRI) particle sizes smaller than 0.5mm.
Primetal’s carbon-reduced steel technology for voestalpine will be available for industrial production after 2023.