WHAT HAPPENED

According to POSCO Group Newsroom, construction began in February 2024 and the EAF was completed in June, although the source does not specify the completion year. The furnace uses electricity to melt steel scrap and features enclosed, side-fed continuous charging, allowing scrap to be fed without opening the furnace roof. It also blends blast-furnace hot metal with EAF molten steel.

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WHY IT MATTERS

Commercial context

The project gives POSCO 2.5 million tons/year of reported EAF capacity at Gwangyang and expands its ability to use recycled scrap in steelmaking. POSCO presents the investment as an emissions-reduction option ahead of HyREX commercialization. Any emissions advantage over conventional blast-furnace production remains conditional on factors including the electricity-generation mix and scrap availability.

MetalMate analysis
KEY DETAILS
  • Reported capacity: 2.5 million tons/year.
  • Feedstock and process: electricity-based melting of steel scrap, combined with hot-metal/molten-steel mixing.
  • Charging system: enclosed continuous side feeding designed to avoid opening the furnace roof.
  • Strategic role: a near-term decarbonization measure while POSCO develops HyREX hydrogen-reduction ironmaking.
  • The source provides no actual output, ramp-up schedule or confirmation that full commercial production has started.
WHAT TO WATCH

Monitor confirmation of commissioning and commercial ramp-up, actual production volumes, the scrap-to-hot-metal operating mix, and procurement of suitable scrap and electricity. Further HyREX commercialization milestones will help indicate the EAF’s continuing role as a transitional decarbonization option.

Source & methodology +

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Article status
Published · Version 1
Source date
Not supplied
MetalMate publication
27 September 2026
Verification
Automated evidence checks; not human reviewed

A Piece of Rusted Steel, Reborn in an Electric Arc Furnace [3-minute Recap YouTube] — POSCO Group Newsroom
MetalMate provides an English summary; consult the original wording.