JFE Steel commences operations at new electric furnace in Chiba

Japanese steelmaker JFE Steel has officially started operations at a newly installed electric furnace located at the No.4 steelmaking plant of its East Japan Works in the Chiba area. The company invested approximately JPY 15 billion (US$95.97 million) in the project.

The new electric furnace has an annual scrap melting capacity of around 300,000 tonnes.

The No.4 steelmaking plant produces stainless steel using molten iron from blast furnaces combined with internally generated scrap. With the addition of this new furnace, JFE Steel aims to significantly boost the use of scrap in its production processes.

JFE Steel estimates that the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 450,000 tonnes per year. This initiative is part of the company's broader strategy to transition toward lower-emission steelmaking. The company has stated that the period leading up to 2030 will serve as a transition phase, focused on gradually expanding low-carbon production methods and developing innovative decarbonization technologies.