POSCO opens Korea's largest electric arc furnace to cut steelmaking carbon emissions by 75%

POSCO has completed construction of South Korea's largest electric arc furnace at its Gwangyang steelworks, with an annual capacity of 2.5 million tons. The facility, built with an investment of about 600 billion won, uses recycled ferrous scrap instead of iron ore and coal, cutting carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to traditional blast furnaces. The company aims to produce premium automotive and electrical steel sheets by 2030 using this technology. This move aligns with global decarbonization policies and growing demand for low-carbon steel products. POSCO is also developing hydrogen injection and hot-metal blending technologies to further reduce emissions while maintaining product quality. The furnace is the largest single facility of its kind in Korea and marks a significant step in the steel industry's shift toward cleaner production methods.