Commissioned in 1975, Blast Furnace No. 7 at Algoma Steel in Canada was once the largest blast furnace in the British Commonwealth. For five decades, it has supplied the steel behind critical projects and applications across North America. It is now being decommissioned.
The Canadian steel producer Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has begun decommissioning of blast furnace No. 7, continuing the work that had begun continuing the work which began with the closure of the cokingmaking operations. This includes Coke Battery No. 7, built in 1959; Coke Battery No. 8, built in 1967; and Coke Battery No. 9, built in 1978.
Together, these facilities formed the backbone of Algoma Steel’s integrated steelmaking operations for generations. Their decommissioning marks the end of an era in our history as an integrated steel producer and the beginning of a new chapter, the company says.
Algoma Steel is now producing steel exclusively through Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking, reflecting a fundamental shift in how we make steel and the future we are building.
Powered by Ontario’s clean electricity and recycled scrap, the switch to EAF promises a reduction in CO₂ emissions of around 70% compared to conventional integrated steel productionHydropower is Ontario’s largest renewable source, representing 21.4% of total installed capacity in 2023. Wind and solar have also expanded substantially, accounting for 13.2% and 5.3% of installed capacity, respectively, giving Ontario the largest installed wind and solar capacity in Canada that year.
Algoma’s transition to electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production is the largest decarbonisation project in Canada.
Source: Algoma Steel
