Sponge Iron (DRI)

Sponge Iron or Direct Reduced Iron is produced by reducing Iron Ore

SEML was one of the first companies to install a sponge iron plant in the Siltara, Raipur area. Sponge Iron or Direct Reduced Iron is produced by reducing Iron Ore (in the form of lumps/ pellets) using non- coking coal in a rotary kiln. The coal acts as the fuel as well as a reducing agent & Oxygen is removed from the Ore to produce Sponge Iron. Since the reduction takes place in the solid phase only it is called Direct Reduction. The finished product has pores like a sponge due to removal of Oxygen, thus it is also known as Sponge Iron. The hot flue gases produced in the reactor during the process are used in Waste Heat Recovery Boilers to produce Steam. This helps us in economizing our power generation costs. Majority of the Sponge Iron produced at SEML is used for its own captive use to produce steel ingots and billets through induction furnace route. Our annual DRI production capacity is 360, 000 MT with 2 X 500 MTPD and 2 X 100 MTPD rotary kilns installed at our Siltara works. ponge Iron is sold in two sizes - Lumps: 5- 18 mm , Fines 0- 6 mm . The chemical specification is as under: -