Article

Jindal Steel Duqm, a subsidiary of the Jindal Steel Group, has reiterated its commitment to sustainable steel production by ordering a second hydrogen-ready direct reduction plant in Oman’s Al Wusta region. This plant, which will complement the first Energiron DRI facility currently under construction and scheduled to commence operations in 2026, is set to produce 2.5 million tons per year of direct reduced iron (DRI) with an impressive metallization rate of 94%.

The new plant will employ cutting-edge zero reformer Energiron technology, developed collaboratively by Tenova and Danieli, ensuring that the hot DRI produced can be efficiently briquetted into hot briquetted iron (HBI) for storage or export. An innovative feature of this design includes the potential integration of the HyTemp pneumatic transport system, enabling the direct feeding of hot DRI at temperatures exceeding 600 degrees Celsius to electric arc furnaces (EAFs), which enhances overall energy efficiency.

Significantly, the hybrid design of the Energiron technology allows for operation on natural gas and up to 80% hydrogen, or any combination of the two, without necessitating modifications to the plant. This aligns well with Oman’s ambitions to harness its natural gas resources and renewable energy potential for hydrogen production. The incorporation of carbon capture technology will facilitate the reuse of captured carbon, further embedding sustainability into Jindal Steel Duqm's broader green steel initiative.