Midrex Technologies Inc announced that Saudi Arabia's Al-Tuwairqi Group has successfully started up the first of two relocated MIDREX® DR Plants at Dammam in Saudi Arabia with first product produced in early May 2007.

Al-Tuwairqi’s Direct Reduction Iron Factory is currently making about 57 tonnes per hour at 2% carbon and 93.5% metallization and will ramp up production towards a target of about 88 tonnes per hour in the next few months as additional Iron Oxide feed material is delivered.

Al-Tuwairqi acquired two MIDREX DR Plants from Corus Group Plc in December 2004. The two plants each had an original production capacity of 400,000 tonnes per year. The Direct Reduction Iron Factory MIDREX Plants, commonly referred to as modules, were relocated from Mobile in Alabama last year. The newly commissioned module now has a rated capacity of 500,000 tonnes, as a result of critical equipment replacement and new process engineering advancements.

Mr Zulfikar Uddin GM of Al-Tuwairqi’s DRI said “Based on my past experience in operating and managing MIDREX DRI Plants, I was not surprised at the speed at which we were able to re commission the plant. I will be happy when we can increase production after the additional feed material is received.”