The Brazilian steel and iron ore producer CSN will supply high-grade iron ore to a direct reduced iron (DRI) plant to be built in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which will send the reduced iron to a steel plant to be built in Japan to produce low emissions steel.
The iron ore arm of CSN, CMin, is building a plant in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, next to its Casa de Pedra Mine, to produce high-grade pellet feed, with start-up scheduled for 2026.
The ore will be sent to a DRI plant that will be built in the UAE, in an association among Itochu Corporation, Emirates Steel Arkan and JFE Steel, taking advantage of the availability and low cost of the natural gas produced in the Arab country.
The start-up of the DRI plant is scheduled for 2027.
In a third stage, the DRI will be sent to Japan, to produce steel in an electric arc furnace of high dimensions, currently being built by JFE Steel, with start-up scheduled for early 2027.
The Japanese plant will also use scrap as feedstock, to supply the local automotive industry, among other sectors.
