The licence provides Primetals Technologies with the exclusive right to execute pelletising plants in India based on Metso SG-IOP reference projects with grate sizes ranging from 272-816m2 implemented in India over the past decades.
The licence agreement comes as a result of the Metso Outotec merger clearance process in India. The combination of Metso's Minerals business and Outotec was conditionally approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in June 2020, subject to the transfer of Metso's SG-IOP capital equipment business in India to a suitable buyer through a technology licencing arrangement.
The licence enables Primetals Technologies to design, engineer, supply and commission pelletising plants based on Metso SG-IOP technology and to engage in respective aftermarket services in India. Through this agreement, Primetals Technologies said it will further strengthen its offering of iron ore pelletising plants for customers in India.
Aashish Gupta, executive vice president and global business unit head upstream at Primetals Technologies, said: "Indian pellet plant capacity is expected to grow significantly in coming years to meet the growing demand of steel in India. This agreement with Metso Outotec will enable Primetals Technologies to provide our customers with proven and reliable technology for iron ore pellets production. Primetals Technologies also offers Circular Pelletising Plants for smaller capacities up to 2Mt/y and this agreement with Metso Outotec supports our activities to provide iron ore pellet plants up to 8Mt/y in India."
In February, Primetals Technologies and US-based Midrex Technologies partnered with Russia's Metalloinvest to build what the parties call one of the world's largest hot briquetted iron (HBI) plants.
