Brazilian iron ore producer Vale has successfully tested a new type of iron ore briquette, to be used in direct reduction plants, the company said in media reports.
According to Vale, the product will help the steel industry in its efforts to reduce emissions, as it emits 80 percent less CO2 when compared to conventional DRI grade iron ore pellets.
Vale added that the briquette can also be used in blast furnaces, replacing the BF grade pellets. So far, seven experimental tests have been carried out at plants for different clients in the Americas.
In one such test, the new product outperformed pellets in metallization, reaching a metallic iron content of around 98 percent, while pellets reached 95 percent, pointing to potential improvements of productivity at steel producers.
In June, Vale will test the DRI grade brickette in the plant of an undisclosed client in North America.
Vale is building two 6 million mt per year briquette plants at its Tubarão Unit in Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, in the southeast of Brazil. The first one is expected to start production during the first half of 2023, while the other one will start until the end of the year.