Metso Outotec was chosen by Beijing Shougang International Engineering Technology (BSIET) to build the plant in southwest China - financial details of the deal were not yet disclosed.

The plant will feature Metso Outotec's travelling grate pellet indurating furnace at its core, which has a grate area of 432 square metres.

The company's travelling grate technology uses a green balling section where, after the mixing stage, green pellets are formed either by rolling on discs or in drums. The drums use a two-stage process where undersized pellets are returned to the drum via a roller screen, while discs using a single process step to discharge pellets from the disc rim within a very narrow size range.

The contract includes the engineering and design of the indurating system, engineering of the process gas fan system, and the supply of proprietary and key process equipment.

"We are looking forward to working with the customer operating the steel plant and our long-term partner BSIET. This is the second pelletizing plant contract we've received in China within six months, underlining the strong presence of our traveling grate technology on the Chinese market," says Tobias Stefan, vice president, Ferrous & Heat Transfer business line at Metso Outotec.

Last October, Metso Outotec won the contract to build a similar pelletising plant for BSIET in the southeastern city of Nantong. Pellet production at the plant is scheduled to start by the end of 2021.