Australian miner Rio Tinto has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with India-based Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) for the global commercialization of the HIsmelt (high-intensity smelting) technology to be used in fully-integrated steelmaking facilities.
HIsmelt technology, the world's first commercial direct smelting process for making iron straight from ore, smelts iron ore fines directly using non-coking coals. This process also offers significant economic and environmental benefits to the steel industry.
According to the MoU, the existing Kwinana HIsmelt plant will be relocated from Australia to JSPL's existing facility in Angul, Orissa, India. The relocated plant will be fully owned by JSPL.