GravitHy: Pioneering Low-Carbon Iron Production for a Sustainable Future

By 2028, GravitHy will be producing low-carbon metallic iron in the form of DRI pellets (Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) pellets). The DRI pellets produced by GravitHy will be marketed globally after the DRI has been processed on sion-site Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI). DRI into Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI).

These low-carbon pellets and briquettes will cater to the fast-growing market for carbon-free steel, driven by steelmakers aiming to produce low-carbon steel, as well as end-users in industries such as automotive, wind power, and construction who seek to minimize their carbon footprint., for example.

“By reducing the environmental impact of steel, GravitHy contributes to reducing the carbon impact of many sectors. the reduction of carbon impacts in many sectors,” said José Noldin, CEO of GravitHy.

Situated in the heart of the industrial port area of Fos-sur-Mer, GravitHy's inaugural plant will actively contribute to the revitalisation of the local ecosystem and the perpetuation of industrial employment:

• A significant increase in solid bulk traffic (approximately 3 million tonnes per year) for imported iron ore and the export of Decarbonated HBI via sea routes.
• Industrial activities aligned with the existing industries in the expansive maritime port of Marseille, encompassing all utilities produced in the region (including heat requirements, hydrogen production, and synergies with the steel industry).
• Creation of over 3000 new direct and indirect jobs.
• Establishing partnerships with schools, universities, and training centres to foster the development of new initiatives and continuing education programmes for students.

“The public authorities are extremely concerned about the proper acceptance, implementation and success of the GravitHy project. Why is this so? For the objectives of Europe and that we give ourselves, less 30% compared to 2018 in 2030, in the steel industry and carbon neutrality in steelthe  industry in 2050.” said M.Régis Passerieux – Référent France 2030, Sous-Préfet de l’arrondissement d’Istres.

The first phase of the engineering studies has been completed. The economic, technical, environmental, and regulatory feasibility of the industrial project has been definitively confirmed. This initial phase of studies involved the mobilization of over 3M EUR and more than 50 experienced engineers over the last 3 months.

GravitHy now possesses a reliable project plan and ground plan. Subsequent phases will focus on preparing the project's comprehensive global planning and initiating the first calls for tender.

Following the construction phase, the cold operation will commence in 2027, and testing will be conducted. The factory is scheduled to become operational starting from in.

Steel serves as the fundamental cornerstone of both the industry and the energy transition. In addition to steel, GravitHy's innovations will pave the way for the decarbonization of various technologies, including vehicles, wind turbines, buildings, and steel structures.

The GravitHy plant in Fos-sur-Mer will epitomise the future of primary steel production on the Mediterranean coast. This plant marks the beginning of a series of facilities for GravitHy. Given the growing demand for carbon-free steel, it is evident that GravitHy will develop new low-carbon DRI/HBI production units in Europe and worldwide. The process of decarbonizing the steel industry is already in progress!

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