LAHORE - Using Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) in conventional steel-making gives a good control over composition of various types of steel and evidently DRI is steels most versatile metallic. These views were expressed by Pakistan Steel Melters Association Chairman Mohammad Ashraf at a local hotel. He said he himself witnessed successful use of DRI at 3 different melt shops across Pakistan. It is to be noted that the DRI was arranged by Tuwairqi Steel Mills Limited (TSML), a subsidiary of Al Tuwairqi Holding, in an effort to educate the iron and steel industry of Pakistan about the cost-effective outcomes of using DRI. The melting of around 38 tons of DRI was performed during this week at Punjab Concast, Nomi Steel, Hattar and AFCO Steel in Lahore. Later, Director Projects, TSML, Zaigham Adil Rizvi gave a formal presentation about TSML project, which was attended and admired by a large gathering of top-notch professionals from the iron and steel sector of Pakistan. The official documentary, covering all aspects of TSML project from its beginning to the current status, was also appreciated by the guests. It is pertinent to note that TSML is Pakistans first private-sector integrated environment-friendly steel manufacturing project of Al Tuwairqi Holding, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. TSML complex spreads over an area of 220 acres at Bin Qasim, Karachi, and employs the worlds most advanced DRI technology based on the Midrex process, owned by Kobe Steel of Japan. The DRI plant of 1.28 MTPY of capacity is now on the verge of completion. While expressing his views, Mohammad Ashraf said, It is a matter of great pride for us that Pakistan would be producing one of the most preferred DRI raw materials for quality steel making upon the completion of the first phase of TSML. He was of the view that currently Pakistan is among the countries that rely mostly on imports when it comes to heavy mechanical structures and engineering goods. By producing high-quality steel within Pakistan we can manufacture such equipment locally by value addition with the help of downstream industries, he added. While giving technical information, Zaigham Adil Rizvi, said, DRI contains around 94pc iron with very little impurities, which are removable. According to the latest statistics, DRI production, worldwide, has increased from 84.6 million tons in 2000, to over 132.9 million tons in 2009. There is a consistent growth in the production of DRI over the years, owing to environment-friendly production processes, consistent quality of the product and above all the most optimum utilisation of the energy content (BTUs) of natural gas at around 86pc.