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china news service, beijing, september 5 (reporter pang wuji) vale, a global mining giant, is accelerating the application of its iron ore briquetting technology. the reporter learned from vale on the 5th that vale and midrex technologies, inc. have agreed to cooperate to promote the technical solution of using iron ore briquetting in direct reduction plants. the executives of the two companies have met at the midrex research and technology development center and signed a technical cooperation agreement.

it is understood that the agreement continues the technical cooperation and testing work carried out by both parties in the past year. vale's cold pressing technology produces high-quality iron ore briquettes in a low-temperature process by using binder technology solutions, giving the final product high mechanical strength. preliminary test results show that the use of iron ore briquettes in the direct reduction process works well. if the technology is verified in the midrex® plant, the two parties plan to establish a joint venture to specialize in providing briquetting technology and facilities to the market. midrex is a global leader in direct reduction ironmaking technology and after-sales solutions for the steel industry.

currently, most direct reduction plants around the world use iron ore pellets as raw material. vale's briquetting process is an alternative to the pelletizing process, with lower production costs, less investment intensity, and can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 80%. direct reduction technology can produce direct reduced iron (dri). dri is a key raw material for electric arc furnaces (eaf) and can be used to produce high-quality steel with fewer impurities. dri can also be used in blast furnaces to supplement or replace iron ore, thereby reducing coke demand and lowering carbon emissions.

compared with other ironmaking processes, direct reduction technology has a lower carbon footprint because it uses natural gas instead of coke as a reducing agent. if green hydrogen is used instead of natural gas, green steel with near-zero greenhouse gas emissions can be produced. "this agreement demonstrates the recognition of the huge potential of briquetting in the global decarbonization of steel by the world's leading direct reduction technology supplier," said eduardo bartolomeo, ceo of vale. "this is not only a technical cooperation agreement, but also the beginning of a partnership. this partnership will play a key role in promoting briquetting technology to more markets."

"we are very pleased to be working with vale to find a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for using iron ore fines in direct reduction plants," said kc woody, midrex president and ceo.