Rio Tinto has awarded Metso a detailed design and engineering contract for their continuous pilot plant (CPP) for the BioIronTM process. The contract is an extension of the work that Rio Tinto and Metso have been doing together on the development of the BioIronTM process, the effectiveness of which was successfully proven through small-scale pilot tests conducted at Metso’s Research Center in Frankfurt, Germany.
Iron ore quarry. Image Credit: Metso
Rio Tinto aims to move further towards full-scale implementation of the BioIronTM technology through operation of a CPP. Metso has been entrusted with the detailed design of the CPP’s reduction furnace and certain other equipment for the BioIronTM process.
“This work is the key next step in the development of the BioIronTM technology and builds on the success of the research and development team,” says David Leigh, General Manager Steel Decarbonization at Rio Tinto.
“We are very excited to continue the close working relationship with Rio Tinto and to provide engineering and design support as we move to the next phase of development of the BioIronTM technology,” says Matthias Gabriel, Director, Ferrous at Metso.