Vale Will Build an Iron Ore Briquette Plant in the US

Published: Jan 3, 2025 11:22

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Vale has reached a final agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop an innovative industrial-scale iron ore briquette plant in Louisiana. The project is part of the DOE's Industrial Demonstrations Program (IDP), funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. In the initial phase, Vale is expected to focus on engineering studies and collaboration with local communities, with this phase receiving over $3.8 million in funding from the DOE. Ultimately, the project could receive up to $282.9 million in DOE support, aiming for completion by 2031. The Louisiana plant is designed to produce 1.5 million mt of iron ore briquettes annually, tailored for the direct reduced iron (DRI) process. Vale's innovative briquetting technology uses a low-temperature process and adhesive to produce high-quality iron ore briquettes with strong mechanical properties, offering a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. Compared to the pelletizing process, the briquetting process requires less investment and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 80%.

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