POSCO has started operating South Korea's largest electric arc furnace at its Gwangyang Steelworks. The 6 trillion won facility can produce 2.5 million tons of steel per year and cuts carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to traditional blast furnaces by using recycled scrap steel instead of iron ore and coal. The company plans to blend EAF and blast furnace steel to produce high-grade products like automotive and electrical steel sheets by 2030. The project, launched in February 2024, is part of POSCO's response to global demand for lower-carbon steel. Challenges remain in controlling composition during scrap melting, but POSCO is investing in sorting and refining technologies. The company is also developing bridge technologies like top gas recycling to reduce emissions from existing blast furnaces. This is a concrete step in industrial decarbonization with measurable capacity and emissions targets.
