Rio Tinto inks deal with Indian giant Jindal for new steel-making technology

Green Car Congress reports Rio Tinto has signed a deal with with the India’s Jindal Steel and Power, part of the $15 billion Jindal group, to develop and commercialize the HIsmelt direct smelting technology. The existing plant in Australia, shuttered by Rio Tinto in 2009 because of depressed pig iron prices, will be relocated to India.

HIsmelt, short for high-intensity smelting, is the first commercial direct smelting process for making iron straight from ore. The technology smelts iron ore fines directly using non-coking coals, and provides environmental benefits over traditional ironmaking as it removes the need for coke ovens and sinter plants.

Green Car Congress reports the MoU will also involve the relocation of the existing Kwinana HIsmelt plant from Australia to India at JSPL’s existing facility in Angul, Orissa. The relocated plant will be fully owned by JSPL, and JSPL and Rio Tinto will work together to further develop and market the technology.

DNA India reports most of the major steel making companies in India have tie-ups with foreign companies for specialised steel making technology, where Japan and Korea are leaders.