Though long retired, I am a metallurgist by profession. I recall that under Colvilles, Dalzell was part of an integrated steel making and finishing set-up. They were recognised as working to the highest standards, and were innovative. They produced 44,000 tonnes of high quality steel for the approaches to a Scandinavian bridge. To keep Ravenscraig going all other steelmaking in Scotland was closed.
My suggestion is that we should not attempt steelmaking. We should feed Dalzell by melting scrap steel from shipbuilding, ship breaking, bus manufacture, decommissioning of oil and gas installations and older
wind turbine structures, etc. This material would be very near the required composition. After melting (in an electric arc furnace?) a quick check on composition would enable any required adjustment, and the hot metal could be delivered to the rolling mill.
The very short time required in the furnace compared with the extended series of energy-intensive operations to go from iron ore to new steel should render this recycling procedure competitive on cost. The controlling factor will be the throughput needed to make the rolling mill economic. Would there be enough clean steel scrap from various sources to meet this target?
Given Jim McColl's success to date at Fergusons (where I used to be a shareholder), and Mr McColl's intention to create a larger shipyard, there should be a good market if the quality and price are competitive.
John Smart
Lossiemouth
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