Emsteel to launch pilot for electric process-gas heating in Abu Dhabi

Saudi Arabian steel producer Emsteel has launched a pilot project in collaboration with Danieli and Kanthal to electrify process gas heating at the DRI plant in Abu Dhabi.

Emirates Steel Arkan (Emsteel) will integrate the 1.3-MW electric Process-Gas Heater (e-PGH) with the existing Energiron DRI process, jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli, marking the first installation of direct electric heating for process gas at industrial scale, Danieli says..
The pilot unit is based on Prothal DH technology, a compact and modular electric heating solution developed by Danieli and Kanthal for high-efficiency operation. The system is designed to run in parallel with the fired heater currently in use.
Installation and commissioning are planned for 2026. The initiative is supported by Khalifa University, which will provide modelling of the DRI core process, electrical grid impact, and renewable power variability.
According to Danieli, this step contributes to the progressive decarbonization of direct reduction plants and supports Danieli’s roadmap for fossil-free steelmaking.
Source: Danieli