Greener Journal of  Environment Management and Public Safety Vol. 2 (1), pp.001-009, January 2013  

ISSN: 2354-2276 

Research Paper

Manuscript Number: 010613362

 

Scrap Iron and Steel Recycling in Nigeria

 

Elijah I. Ohimain

 

Bioenergy and Environmental Biotechnology Research Unit, Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

 

E-mail: eohimain @ yahoo.com

Abstract:

Nigeria is blessed with abundant iron ore deposits of nearly 3 billion tonnes and other basic minerals for steel production including coal and limestone. Yet the Nigerian steel sector has collapsed principally due to shortage of raw materials particularly iron ore for the integrated steel plants and billets for the rolling mills. The privatization of the steel sector that was done in 2004-2005 was unable to revive the sector. The study found that the Nigeria steel sector is now being sustained through the recycling of scrap steel obtained mostly from municipal solid wastes. In many of the rolling mills, 100% scrap steel is recycled for the production of iron bars used for civil construction. Scrap steel recycling results in the generation of <7% and 7 – 15% slag for low and high carbon steel respectively. The paper presented the energy and environmental benefits of scrap steel recycling for the production of new products and sustenance of the Nigerian steel sector.

Keywords: Billets, furnace, iron ore, integrated mills, rolling mills, slag.

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