The INR 207 crore (INR 2.07 billion) project, led by the CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), has received in principle approval from India’s Ministry of Steel and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The facility, with a production capacity of 20 mt/day, is planned to be completed by August 2029. The project will receive INR 113 crore in public funding under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, while the remaining financing will be provided by the consortium partners.
Steelmakers included in consortium
The consortium led by CSIR-IMMT includes Godavari Power and Ispat Ltd, Lloyd Steel, Jindal Stainless and Thyssenkrupp Industries India.
PC Beuria, Head of the Mineral Processing Department at CSIR-IMMT, stated that Tata Steel has also agreed to join the consortium, while efforts are continuing to involve other major steelmakers, including Steel Authority of India Ltd.
The project will use a vertical shaft furnace designed to operate entirely on hydrogen. The facility will focus on developing and demonstrating hydrogen based DRI technology suited to the characteristics of domestic iron ore in India.
Low grade hematite ore poses technical challenge
CSIR-IMMT Director Ramanuj Narayan stated that the project aims to develop a hydrogen based direct reduction technology suitable for conditions in India.
One of the main technical challenges is processing the relatively low grade hematite ores found in India. While many international hydrogen DRI projects use higher grade magnetite ore, CSIR-IMMT is working on ore preparation and reduction technologies to ensure that the facility can accommodate the characteristics of Indian iron ore.
The institute is also establishing a 3 mt/day DRI facility using its own resources to bridge the gap between laboratory scale research and the 20 mt/day national pilot plant.
CSIR-IMMT has also received in principle approval for a separate INR 20 crore rotary kiln pilot project to study hydrogen injection of up to 30% alongside biocarbon in existing DRI plants. The project will receive INR 7.5 crore in public funding.
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