Environmental Aspects of the Direct Reduction Route to Steel Making: A Technical Review

In accordance with the decision 87 (V) A of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council at its 5th session, a review was undertaken of the environmental aspects associated with the iron and steel industry and a workshop of Governmental and industrial experts, as well as those from relevant international institutions, on the subject was held (Geneva, 17 - 20 October 1978) (1). One of the issues identified at this workshop for further review, where environmental management guidance was considered necessary, was the direct reduction route to steel making and a meeting of experts was organized in cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in order to provide that guidance. The meeting was held in Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, 24 - 30 April 1982, at the invitation of the Venezuelan authorities and Siderurgica del Orinoco. Experts represented all the major commercialized industrial direct reduction processes. For the industrial sector environmental reviews, UNEP has established a consultative process amongst the main interested parties, namely Governments, industry and the international institutions concerned. Through this process a wide range of information on the environmental aspects of the iron and steel industry has been collected, including information on the direct reduction approach.