Midrex to expand Qasco plant

12 July 2002

The US' Midrex Technologieshas been awarded a contract to increase the production capacity of the direct reduction unit at the Qatar Steel Company (Qasco)complex. The project will see the capacity of the plant rise to 800,000 tonnes a year (t/y) through the use of oxygen in the process flow and the installation of an oxide coating system.

Midrex, which designed, built and commissioned the original Mesaieed plant in partnership with Japan's Kobe Steel, will provide engineering, field services and some equipment for the oxygen use project. The oxygen will raise the temperature in the furnace and enhance reformed gas utilisation to improve efficiency and performance at the plant. Other modifications will include the removal of equipment bottlenecks.

In 2001, Qasco produced a record 734,000 t/y of direct reduced iron (DRI). The DRI is used in Qasco's adjacent steel mill.

In 1996, Qasco announced an estimated $1,750 million investment programme covering 10 new projects. However, due to a collapse in steel prices, nearly all of the projects were not implemented (MEED 3:1:97).

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