Metso Outotec says it has signed a contract with Beijing Shougang International Engineering Technology Co Ltd (BSIET) for the delivery of two compact-sized iron ore pelletising plants for Chengde Zhaofeng Iron and Steel Group, Co. Ltd in Hebei province, China.

This is the sixth pelletising plant contract Metso Outotec has won in China since 2020 and the first order for plants of this size in the Chinese market. The order value of €33 million ($35 million) is booked into the company’s Metals 2023 first quarter (March quarter) orders received.

Metso Outotec’s scope of delivery includes the engineering and design of the indurating and process gas fan systems, supply of proprietary equipment, instrumentation, control systems, as well as supervisory services and technical training. Both plants feature Metso Outotec’s traveling grate pellet indurating furnace with a grate area of 342 sq.m. The 3-m-wide plants each have a capacity of 2.6 Mt/y. Pellet production at the Zhaofeng plant is estimated to start around the September quarter of 2024.

Attaul Ahmad, Vice President, Ferrous & Heat Transfer business line at Metso Outotec, said: “The new plants incorporate state-of-the-art environmentally sound technology. We thank BSIET and our customers in China for their trust in Metso Outotec’s technology.”

Mr Hou, General Manager of BSIET, said: “These plants will be a good reference for additional compact-sized pellet plants for this market segment in China. We have been successfully working with Metso Outotec for many years now and will further continue our cooperation.”

Metso Outotec’s iron ore pelletising process produces uniform pellets and ensures high performance and quality with low investment and operating costs as well as decreased energy consumption and emissions, the company says.