Algerian Qatari Steel (AQS) continues to prepare for its long-awaited direct reduced iron (DRI) module launch. On November 10, the producer has received its very first DR pellet cargo, amounting to 54,000 mt, supplied from Brazil, while discharging is to start shortly. The cooperation between the sides is foreseen to be a long-term one with more shipments to follow. This is the second DR pellet cargo received by AQS overall: in early September, the producer received a vessel from Canada with the same tonnage, as SteelOrbis reported earlier.
The company, being one of the largest steel investments in Algeria, is expected to launch its 2.5 million mt per year DRI unit in the first half of December. In addition, the hot tests on the first electric arc furnace with a 1.1 million mt capacity are to begin by next week, SteelOrbis has learned.