Alternative-iron processes currently are based on either natural gas or coal. Natural-gas processes account for about 93 percent of the DRI made today. Electricity-based processes such as Plasmared have been developed, but these aren't economical because of the high price of electricity, says John Kopfle, manager of marketing services at Midrex. In the U.S., Tuscaloosa Steel, GS Industries and Birmingham Steel, and Qual-itech are installing natural-gas-based alternative-iron plants in the Gulf Coast, where natural gas is relatively inexpensive. Suppliers are developing new coal-based processes such as Fastmet as an alternative to natural-gas processes. Coal-based processes are more attractive in areas where coal is more abundant and less expensive than natural gas.
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