JFE Steel Corporation has commissioned a new electric arc furnace (EAF) at its East Japan Works (Chiba district), with operations starting on April 29, 2026, the company announced in a press release.
The new unit is part of the No.4 steelmaking shop and is used for stainless steel production. The facility integrates scrap-based steelmaking with existing blast furnace operations, enabling partial substitution of hot metal with scrap.
The EAF significantly increases scrap melting capacity to around 300,000 tons per year, up to six times higher than previous levels. This is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 450,000 tons annually.
The investment in the facility is estimated at approximately JPY 15 bln (USD 95 mln).
The company said the project forms part of its transition strategy toward carbon neutrality by 2030, with a focus on increasing scrap utilization and adopting lower-carbon steelmaking processes.
JFE Steel Corporation is a major steel producer formed in 2002 by the merger of NKK and Kawasaki Steel. As the core steelmaking arm of JFE Holdings, it manufactures a wide range of high-value-added steel products and operates integrated steel plants across Japan, while maintaining a significant footprint in India, China, and North America.
1 USD / 158 JPY