On July 20, Hyundai Steel announced that the company is planning on utilizing the lime powder made from the shells’ “sintering” process, which transforms powder iron ore into a form appropriate for blast furnaces.
The use of limestone is essential in the process of making molten metal because adding limestone to the sintering of iron ore leads to both increased productivity and fuel cost savings.
By replacing limestone with shells, Hyundai Steel expects to solve two environmental problems: that of excessive, abandoned shells and emissions of greenhouse gases through limestone usage.
Until now, shells have been classified as industrial waste according to the Wastes Control Act, which limited their use in various sectors. This led to the abandonment of a large number of shells and consistent environmental problems.