Metso has opened a cutting-edge direct reduced iron (DRI) smelting furnace pilot facility in Pori, Finland. This facility will enable customer-specific pilot-scale testing to showcase the effectiveness of Metso’s Outotec DRI Smelting Furnace technology in industrial-scale applications.
Jyrki Makkonen, Vice President of Smelting at Metso, stated, “This pilot facility exemplifies Metso’s innovative solutions that aid the minerals and metals processing industry in adopting sustainable technologies. Our DRI Smelting Furnace replaces traditional blast furnaces in iron and steel production, significantly reducing emissions when paired with a direct reduction plant.”
Mari Lindgren, Director of Smelting Research & Development at Metso, added, “The DRI Smelting Furnace pilot facility meets the growing demand for reliable testing as customers transition to emissions-free smelting. The construction and installation of the pilot plant progressed swiftly, and we anticipate hot commissioning soon to begin customer testing.”
Launched in 2022, the high-capacity DRI Smelting Furnace is a key component of Metso’s Planet Positive solution to decarbonize the iron and steel industry. By substituting traditional blast furnaces, it offers primary steel producers a way to reduce CO2 emissions significantly with minimal changes to existing operations. The furnace can integrate with Metso’s hydrogen-based Circored process or other direct reduction methods.
