MPI in £2.9mln electric arc furnace upgrade as US restarts blast furnaces
Installation work on the UK’s only pilot-scale research electric arc furnace (EAF) will begin in January 2026.
The upgraded facility will provide a platform for developing, testing and refining low-emission steelmaking processes under realistic industrial conditions.
Chris Oswin, CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, says, ‘It significantly enhances our capacity to develop and demonstrate the technologies needed for future EAF-based production, providing industry with a unique environment to test and prove innovation and bring higher recycled content, high-performance steel grades and technologies to market quicker.’
Work on the upgrade began over 18 months ago. Major components, such as a new furnace body and platform, electrode masts and arms, control panels, and charging and hopper systems, are now being delivered to the MPI’s Teesside site.
Initial dismantling has commenced, covering the removal of refractory materials, extraction hood and the existing concrete roof. The current furnace will be removed in January to allow full installation to proceed, followed by cold and hot commissioning trials.
Resulting advanced capabilities will include:
- Jet box powder injection, enabling injection into molten steel or slag while powered, improving safety, melt times and energy efficiency
- HBI/DRI/H2DRI feeder and argon-fed porous plug to support continuous charging for enhanced process stability
- Automated, continuous temperature monitoring for improved efficiency and operator safety
- Carbon injection stand for greater control of carbon inputs and metallurgical performance
- Integrated digitalisation and modelling tools providing real-time monitoring and predictive insights
- Enhanced tapping and slag-removal instrumentation delivering precise hydraulic tilting capabilities
- Electrode magnetic drives to support faster and more efficient melt cycles.
Meanwhile, in the US, consumer demand has led U. S. Steel to begin the process to restart operation of one of two blast furnaces (“B”) at it’s Granite City Works, Illinois.
David B. Burritt, President and CEO of U. S. Steel notes, ‘Steel remains a highly competitive and highly cyclical industry, but we are confident in our ability to safely and profitably operate the mill to meet 2026 demand.’
