Global Steel Dust (Thailand) Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Steel Dust Limited, has announced plans to build Thailand's first steel dust recycling plant.

GSD is engaged in recycling zinc from electric arc furnace steel dust. When operational, the company expects the plant to have the capacity to recycle up to 110,000 tonnes of steel dust per year and produce up to 40,000 tonnes of Waelz zinc oxide per year.

According to GSD, EAF dust volume accounts for about 2% of the total volume of steel produced. Almost all steel produced in Thailand uses the EAF production method. During 2010, Thai EAF steel mills produced more than 4 million tonnes of steel, which generated about 90,000 tonnes of steel dust. Currently, steel mills in Thailand are land filling or storing their EAF dust.

Mr Russ Robinson CEO of GSD said that "Demand for steel dust recovery and recycling is currently high and will be increasing as the steel industry in Thailand continues to grow. The GSD steel dust recycling plant will be a great asset for Thailand and to the community, bringing jobs and providing environmental benefits."

GSD is currently securing land in the Amata City Industrial Park in North Rayong. GSD hopes to start construction by the end of 2011, and the company expects the plant to be completed within a year.

Mr Robinson added that "Our Thailand plant has been designed with the ability to double our recycling capacity in order to grow with the steel industry. We will also not have to import any steel dust from other countries in order to make our project a success."

GSD also entered into a partnership agreement with a Saudi Arabian company to build a steel dust recycling plant in the Dammam Jubail area of Saudi Arabia. Construction is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2012, with a target completion date within one year.

(Sourced from www.recyclingtoday.com)