Maegma Minerals has signed an MoU with Primetals Technologies to establish a Midrex Flex plant in Lumut, Perak, Malaysia, with an annual capacity of 2 mln tons of hot briquetted iron (HBI). Developed in collaboration with Midrex Technologies, operations are scheduled to begin in 2029.
The plant will use Midrex Flex technology, capable of running on a flexible mix of natural gas and hydrogen, and eventually up to 100pct hydrogen. In its initial phase, it will operate on a natural gas-hydrogen blend, reducing carbon emissions by over 50pct compared to traditional blast furnace ironmaking. The facility will feature hydrogen-ready infrastructure, including a 7.15-meter shaft furnace, 19-bay reformer, and advanced gas compression systems.
Key innovations include reuse of fine-ore residues from briquetting and integrated digital systems such as the DRIpax expert system for process optimization. Automation will be delivered through Level 1 and Level 2 systems to ensure efficient, high-quality output.
The plant will be powered by locally sourced natural gas and green hydrogen produced from off-grid renewables, including a planned solar park. Pellet feed will be supplied by a nearby global mining company, minimizing logistics costs.
Maegma Minerals is part of the Kuala Lumpur-based Melewar Group, a leading Malaysian industrial conglomerate with a strong presence in cold-rolled steel, steel pipes, and structural products used across construction, automotive, furniture, and engineering sectors.