Up to now, the steelmaking industries in Japan, S. Korea and Taiwan have been making steady progress with ironmaking based on a large-sized blast furnace. At most blast furnaces, a high-production, high-PCI operation is under way with Australian iron ore and coal as the main sources. The main subjects to be worked out in the future are how to raise the coal injection rate even higher, how to increase the service life of blast furnaces and coke ovens, and how to take measures in accordance with the restrictions on environmental impact. Because of a sharply growing demand in the Asian market for steel products, production of crude steel with an electric arc furnace is rapidly increasing therefore, the supply of high-quality scrap and scrap alternative are also important subjects. To cope with the problem, the development or introduction of a smelting reduction furnace is being put forward positively in these countries. However, in view of the fact that the existing blast furnaces have strong competitiveness, the blast furnace process will continue to be the primary means for making hot metal.
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