PRESENT STATUS OF SPONGE IRON AS A FEEDSTOCK FOR ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE.

A critical analysis has been made of the background developments that have resulted in identifying direct reduced iron (DRI) as a potential alternative iron supply unit for charging into the electric arc furnace (EAF). The present state of sponge iron production, its prominence as a scrap substitute, the growth in EAF steelmaking involving sponge iron and the economic aspects of DRI-EAF route have been considered both in the global and Indian context to present a comprehensive picture about the end use of sponge iron.