POSCO and Primetals to collaborate on development of HyREX plant

South Korean steelmaker POSCO and Primetals Technologies have signed a cooperation agreement to develop and implement the HyREX demonstration plant. This is stated in the message of Primetals.

As noted, the agreement, which was signed in July this year, is based on a memorandum of understanding dated 2022.

The parties have now started implementing the project. The plant will be based at POSCO’s facility in Pohang, South Korea. The companies will collaborate on testing the HyREX process and improving its performance, as well as determining economically feasible process parameters.

The HyREX demonstration plant will be equipped with an ore dryer, fluidized steam reactors, a hot DBI transport system and an electric smelter furnace (ESF).

The HyREX process offers a hydrogen alternative to blast furnaces. By using hydrogen as a reducing agent instead of coal, the technology can significantly reduce carbon emissions. The HyREX plant can be fed with sinter charge, eliminating the need for sintering and a coke oven. According to Primetals, the technology is suitable for more than 50% of globally available iron ore grades.

This summer, POSCO unveiled a pilot hydrogen-fired steelmaking unit. The production process uses the HyREX hydrogen reduction process. In this way, the South Korean company is moving towards its carbon neutrality ambitions.

In April 2024, the company succeeded in producing molten iron at the HyREX pilot plant. The plant was then undergoing repairs to improve the quality of the post-process and develop additional technologies.