Midrex to supply innovative direct reduced iron plant for U.S. Steel

United States Steel Corporation (U.S. Steel) has selected Midrex Technologies, Inc. to build a direct reduced iron (DRI) facility at its Big River Steel Works in Osceola, Arkansas.

Scheduled to begin operations in 2029, the plant will have an annual production capacity of 2.5 million metric tons of hot direct reduced iron (HDRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI).

The project bridges domestic iron ore mining with electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking. HDRI will be fed directly into adjacent EAFs to reduce energy consumption, operating costs, and emissions intensity, while high-strength HBI will be supplied to global merchant markets.

The natural gas-based process delivers up to 50% lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional blast furnaces. Midrex holds a dominant position in the sector, accounting for nearly 80% of global shaft furnace-based direct reduced iron production.