The Ironworks I project will feature ENERGIRON Zero Reformer technology to produce 2.5 million tonnes per year of hot and cold Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) for pig iron production
Tenova has been selected by NEMO Industries as technology provider for a new Direct Reduction (DR) ENERGIRON plant in Louisiana, USA.
The new facility will support NEMO Industries’ Ironworks I project, an innovative direct reduction to electric smelting pig iron initiative aimed at producing high-carbon Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) to feed pig iron production for U.S. and global markets.
ENERGIRON technology to support advanced DRI production
The Louisiana plant will be based on ENERGIRON, the Direct Reduction technology jointly developed by Tenova and Danieli. ENERGIRON plants are recognized for their operational flexibility, high efficiency and ability to meet evolving requirements in the iron and steel industry.
The facility will adopt the ENERGIRON Zero Reformer configuration, one of the most advanced solutions for DRI production, with a designed capacity of approximately 2.5 million tonnes per year of hot and cold DRI.
As the project advances toward the Final Investment Decision (FID), expected in December 2027, Tenova will support NEMO Industries with the development of the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED).
HYTEMP system and future-ready decarbonization pathways
Once operational, the ENERGIRON DRI plant will produce high-carbon Direct Reduced Iron to supply NEMO Industries’ pig iron production facilities. The plant will be equipped with HYTEMP hot DRI transport system, enabling the safe and efficient transfer of hot DRI while maintaining material quality and supporting optimized plant performance.
The project has been designed to incorporate future decarbonization solutions. The facility will be prepared for the integration of carbon capture technologies and will include pathways for future hydrogen utilization, increasing feedstock flexibility as hydrogen infrastructure develops across the Gulf Coast region.
Advancing the future of sustainable iron production
The selection of ENERGIRON technology for the Ironworks I project reinforces Tenova’s commitment to developing innovative solutions for the metals industry. By combining advanced Direct Reduction technology with future-ready solutions for hydrogen and carbon capture integration, Tenova continues to support the transition toward more sustainable and flexible iron production.
Tenova HYL President & CEO
"For Tenova, this agreement offers another proof point that Tenova’s technology represents the vanguard of future global iron production. It gives NEMO Industries the technical foundation in terms of capital and operating expenditures, carbon content, and sustainability to prove its DRI-based pig iron model."
Co-Founder and President, NEMO Industries
"Our partnership with Tenova marks a major milestone in NEMO Industries' mission to rebuild a secure, cost-competitive, and low-emission American pig iron supply chain. Recent market disruptions including war, tariffs, and weather have reinforced the national security case for a resilient American pig iron supply. ENERGIRON DRI technology positions us to develop a pig iron facility that will strengthen the American steel supply chain and reduce our reliance on imported steel inputs.”
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