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Nippon, Kobe Start up Joint Venture Steel Mill Dust Recycling Plant
10/04/2011 - Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel announce the start of commercial operation for their joint venture steel mill dust recycling plant, Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine Co., Ltd.
Nippon Steel Corp. and Kobe Steel, Ltd. announced the start of commercial operation for their joint venture steel mill dust recycling plant.
The plant — Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine Co., Ltd. — is located at the Nippon Steel Hirohata Works in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture. The joint venture was established in 2008, and construction of the facility started in May 2010. The plant will process steel mill dust and iron ore fines from Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) and to recover zinc.
Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine’s recycling plant utilizes Kobe Steel's FASTMET® Process, in which steel mill dust is heated to a high temperature in a doughnut-shaped Rotary Hearth Furnace (RHF) then is quickly reduced to yield DRI. The process technology also allows for the recovery of zinc contained in the steel mill dust.
DRI produced by Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine is supplied to Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel, with a portion also going to Sanyo Special Steel Co., Ltd., a group company of Nippon Steel. The DRI is used in the steel production process as an alternative to purchased scrap and iron ore, and the recycled zinc can help to reduce the use of zinc ore. The companies note that recycling also helps to promote zero emissions.
Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel established the Nittetsu Shinko Metal Refine joint venture in 2008, and construction of the facility, which is capable of processing approximately 220,000 tonnes per year, started in May 2010. Through the joint business, both Nippon Steel and Kobe Steel will be able to cover a broader region for steel dust recycling and zero emissions. The joint business goes beyond the framework of each individual company by integrating the process technology established by Kobe Steel and operation know-how established by Nippon Steel on the recycling and effective utilization of steel dust.
In addition to the new business, Nippon Steel is using its three other dust recycling plants at its Hirohata Works to recycle steel mill dust generated from steelmakers, including alliance partners, located in the Kansai region of Japan.
In addition to the new business, Nippon Steel is using its three other dust recycling plants at its Hirohata Works to recycle steel mill dust generated from steelmakers, including alliance partners, located in the Kansai region of Japan.
