US Steel has selected Midrex Technologies for the supply of an HDRI/HBI plant for the company’s new direct reduced iron (DRI) facility at Big River Steel Works, Arkansas.
The 2.5Mt/yr Midrex Flex plant will supply hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) to adjacent EAFs while also producing hot briquetted iron (HBI) for merchant sales.
Midrex President, K.C. Woody said: “Midrex is proud to support Big River Steel on this landmark project that advances the future of iron and steelmaking in the United States,
“This facility will serve as a flagship example of integrating direct reduction technology with modern EAF steel production while strengthening domestic manufacturing and supply chain resilience.”
Feeding HDRI directly to an EAF provides many benefits, including reduced energy consumption, higher productivity in the EAF, lower operating costs, and reduced emissions intensity.
The project represents a major milestone for the American steel industry and will establish the first DRI facility of its kind in the US, integrated with electric arc furnace steelmaking and a domestic DR-grade pellet supply chain.
Production is expected to commence in 2029.
