Metinvest continues to invest in the development of green steel industry in Kryvyi Rih, despite the war

Despite the war, Metinvest Group is launching a project to build a flotation and finishing complex at the Northern Mining and Processing Plant. This is the second project within a large-scale program to produce high-quality DR pellets used in direct iron reduction technology for the production of green steel. This is stated in the company’s press release.

The project will increase the iron content in ordinary concentrate to 70.8% and reduce the proportion of impurities (silicon and aluminum oxides) to 2%. The high quality of raw materials for the production of DR pellets will ensure Metinvest’s competitiveness and flexibility in new raw material markets.

At the end of January this year, Metinvest Sichstal, the company that implements the group’s strategic investment projects, signed an agreement with global technology equipment supplier Metso to develop basic engineering for the integration of a new flotation and finishing complex into the concentrate production process at Northern Mining. This stage is planned to be completed by the end of 2026.

The flotation and finishing complex will consist of three main technological sections:

• re-grinding of flotation feed in VTM vertical mills,
• flotation finishing with primary and control flotation,
• dewatering of flotation concentrate using filter presses.

As noted by Metinvest Sichstal CEO Marya Vasilyeva, cooperation with the world leader in flotation technologies gives confidence in the successful implementation of the project.

“The project will expand Metinvest’s production capabilities and create additional value for Ukraine’s economy. At the same time, it is another step towards green metallurgy — the company’s transformation on the path to climate neutrality,” she explained.

At the end of last year, the group announced plans to increase production of DR pellets for the production of green steel using direct iron reduction technology and premium raw materials for pig iron production at Northern GOK. In addition to the construction of a flotation and finishing complex, the program includes the reconstruction of the LURGI 552-A roaster pellet production line, with basic engineering being developed by Primetals Technologies.

Thanks to the implementation of these two projects, Northern Mining plans to produce about 4 million tons of DR pellets per year. The possibility of producing BF HQ class pellets is also envisaged.