Tenova has developed for Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) the Flexible Modular Furnace (FMF). This is designed for steelmakers who use primarily hot metal but could move or return to scrap-based steelmaking in the future.

The new technology was adopted to one of JSPL’s electric arc furnaces, thereby cutting production cost by $15-18/tonne of steel and saving $15 million-20 million annually, according to the Italy-based technology supplier. The project “… represents a milestone for the launch of the FMF solution in the Asian market,” says Tenova Senior Vice President Silvio Reali in a statement seen by Kallanish.

FMF is also suitable for steelmakers that seek a transition from basic oxygen furnace to EAF-based steelmaking, and for EAF meltshops that aim to increase the hot metal percentage in their charge mix. A full range of metallic charges can be smelted with capital costs reduced to a minimum, Tenova says.

“In India, high energy cost and inconsistent/poor availability of raw material has necessitated the industry to explore cost effective steelmaking methods,” Tenova observes. “Alternative methods to build flexibility in furnace for charging different types of raw materials – such as the one offered by FMF – are the need of the hour, and very much essential to control the cost of steel.”

“In China, FMF can be the first step for the modernisation of oxygen steel plants offering a smoother transition to the scrap era,” the firm concludes.