2. Short steelmaking processes

Examination of figure 1 shows that, compared with the classic scheme, it is possible to simplify and shorten the chain by means of two initiatives which can, moreover, be combined.

The first initiative is to avoid certain operations, such as :

• by injecting coal into the blast furnace tuyeres, thus avoiding coking;

• by the direct use of ores, without agglomeration, for direct reduction.

The elimination of these operations, however, is limited, and the use of scrap instead of cast iron as the primary metal is on a completely different scale: this is what gave rise to the...