Improving energy efficiency in the steel industry through scrap recycling

Energy efficiency in manufacturing industries has become an issue of concern in the world today. This has become paramount to adopt efficient practices due to scarcity and unsecured energy supply, rising price of energy, awareness of “green” customer, environmental concern and above all, the need to manufacture products that are competitive. Considering the process industry, a lot of processes have been adopted to enhance energy efficiency ranging from more efficient technological innovations, better management and better operational practices. As a means to further exploring energy efficient practices in iron and steel industries, this study aims at investigating the energy consumption in producing steel through scrap recycling route and the energy savings that could be accrued it compared to other steel production routes. Once the difference in energy consumption of these different process routes are considered and evaluated scrap recycling could be proposed as an alternative route to producing steel in Nigerian context. This approach will help the country (as it lacks the availability of quality iron ore and coking coal) to produce steel internally thereby reducing it’s over dependence in imported steel, creates employment and also produce semi-finished steel at a competitive price.