Two Routes to Steel

Today's steelmaker who is planning brownfield expansion or greenfield development has two main choices of process-the conventional blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace method or the emerging direct reduction-electric arc furnace route. The manpower, fuel, and capital efficiencies of the two methods are compared, and possible future developments including nuclear steelmaking and continuous steel-making are discussed. Comments on the critical factors involved in making a choice of process are given.