Metalloinvest, a leading global iron ore and hot briquetted iron (HBI) producer based in Russia, has announced that it has entered the active phase of construction and installation works for the third hot briquetted iron plant (HBI-3 Plant) at Lebedinsky GOK in Gubkin in the Belgorod region of Russia. The plant will have an annual production capacity of 1.8 million mt and will be the largest HBI production facility in the world.
A consortium comprising Siemens VAI and Midrex is the main equipment supplier and will also complete the necessary automation of the first and second stages. The Urban Institute of Steel Plant Design, part of Metalloinvest, is also involved in the implementation of the project.
The total investment in the project amounts to approximately $850 million (based on 2013 prices and rouble currency rates). The construction of the new plant will allow the company to strengthen its position in the global high added-value iron ore resources market.