Mitsubishi Corporation will be a strategic partner of Primetals Technologies, as well as Rio Tinto and voestalpine throughout the demonstration project. The focus of the project is to create a hydrogen-based bed fine ore reduction process.

The project is scheduled to begin operations in mid-2027, until then it involves building and operating an industrial-scale prototype plant, based at the voestalpine steelworks in Linz, which will include a new hydrogen-based ironmaking process.

70% of the project’s iron ore will be supplied by Rio Tinto. HYFOR and Smelter technologies developed by Primetals will be used to produce hot metal and hot briquetted iron. The plant is expected to have a capacity of three tons per hour.

HYFOR is a first-of-its-kind technology that eliminates the need for agglomeration steps to make iron ore suitable as feedstock. Smelter technologies produce hot metal from melting and final reduction of direct reduced iron (DRI) for use in the steelmaking plant, powered by renewable energy.

HYFOR and Smelter technologies are expected to play a significant role in the decarbonisation of the steel industry, with this project serving as a key starting point. Demand for DRI is anticipated to increase soon, as it enables low CO₂ emissions during the ironmaking process.

The Austrian federal government and the European Union both provided funding for this project’s investment and operation.