Japanese steelmaker Kobe Steel has said that it will consider building a large electric arc furnace to replace one of its two blast furnaces in Kakogawa, western Japan, in an effort to accelerate its decarbonization drive.
"We will consider an introduction of a large innovative electric arc furnace which can make high-end steel products, although it will be done after 2030."
Yoshihiko Katsukawa, president, Kobe Steel
"We will consider an introduction of a large innovative electric arc furnace which can make high-end steel products, although it will be done after 2030," president Yoshihiko Katsukawa told reporters and analysts.
"We don't know what our final steelmaking structure will be, but we should make considerations to move to a scheme with one blast furnace and one electric furnace," he said.
Under the new three-year management plan unveiled by Kobe Steel earlier this week, the company aims to make decisions on the 300 billion yen ($1.9 billion) investment in the next three years to reduce its CO2emissions in steel-making and power generation operations.
Kobe Steel, which also operates a power generation business, plans to initiate 20% ammonia co-firing with coal in the No.1 and No.2 units at its Kobe coal-fired power station toward 2030.
Source: Reuters