State-of-the-art and future developments in electric steelmaking

The worldwide steadily increasing steel demand will even in future be met by running the two main production routes. The BOF route starting from the ore reducing blast furnace and the electric are furnace technology with its capability of recycling steel scrap complement each other most favourably. Profitability and market demands predominating at the individual location determine the respective ratio. Above all, the ideal process technological possibilities of scrap recycling by using primary energy, the processing of DRI and the relatively low investment and energy costs are advantages of the EAF process. Further distribution of EAF technology is limited by both availability and quality of steel scrap. Future will show whether and to what extent these limits can be overcome by employing DRI. As regards sustainable development and the included demands for an environmentally friendly steel production, the drastically lower CO2-emmision of the EAF and its contribution to the balance of steel industry's CO2-emissions represent another convincing advantage. All these potentials, benefits and the incorporated chances have to be strengthened by new developments and improvements.