Midrex partners with SMS to develop a fully integrated cleaner coal gasification-based DRI solution

Midrex Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Kobe Steel, Ltd., and Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (SES) announced Tuesday the signing of a Project Alliance Agreement that expands their exclusive relationship for integration and optimization of direct reduction ironmaking (DRI) technology using coal gasification. Midrex will take the lead in marketing, sales, proposal development, and project execution for coal gasification DRI projects as part of the new project alliance. Midrex may also lead the construction of the fully integrated solution for customers who desire such an execution strategy. SES will provide the SES Gasification Technology for each project including engineering, key equipment, and technical services. The fully integrated state-of-the-art gasification-based DRI facility will have total plant guarantees. The agreement includes finalization of an engineering package for the optimized coal gasification DRI solution.

These state-of-the-art facilities will seamlessly combine the industry-leading MIDREX Process using the MXCOL configuration with the advanced fluidized bed SES Gasification Technology to create clean syngas from abundant, low quality, locally-sourced coals in order to convert iron ore into high-purity DRI.

Midrex and SES rolled out their marketing alliance in May 2014 following the successful early engineering co-development effort of the joint technologies. That effort provided results leading the partners to believe that the combined cleaner, efficient and economic product will have widespread application, especially in gas-short regions with low quality, low cost coal, which comprise more than 50 percent of the world’s coal resources.