The 16th Global Slag Conference has successfully taken place in Dubai, UAE, with 175 registered delegates from 32 countries, two field trips to slag grinding plants and the Global Slag Awards dinner at a spectacular camp on the edge of the Arabian Desert.

Image: Slag grinding plant field trip to Green Cement, Dubai, the day before the conference kicked off.

The opening day commenced with an insightful overview of global slag industry trends by a representative from OneStone Consulting.

The presentation highlighted shifts in iron production methods, with a growing emphasis on Directly reduced iron (DRI) production and Electric-arc furnace (EAF) steel recycling.

Subsequent discussions explored the diverse applications and market dynamics of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) such as GBFS, particularly in Asian markets like Japan, China, and India.

Regulatory considerations in the United States regarding slag products and innovative approaches to slag utilization in cement production were also addressed by industry experts.

Delegates then enjoyed the Gala dinner on the edge of the sandy Arabian Desert, accompanied by a “spectacular” fire show and some delicious desserts!

The Global Slag Awards were presented, along with the ‘Slag Personality/ies of the Year’.

Slag Personality of the Year Winners

• Arusha Ahmed Khan – Cemcoa
• Anil Bhadsavle – WALAN Specialty Construction Products
• Niklas Tornkvist – Magsort
• Charles Ochola – US National Slag Association

Global Slag Award Winners

• Producer of the Year – JSW Steel & JSW Cement
• Equipment Supplier of the Year – Magsort
• Plant of the Year – AM/NS Steel India JV
• Product of the Year – Ecocem ACT
• User of the Year – Saudi Ready Mix Concrete
• Technical Innovator Award - Carbicrete

Image: Ecocem representatives collect the 'Product of the Year' Award for their low carbon technology 'Ecocem ACT'.

On the second day of the conference, several notable presentations were delivered. The first presentation provided a 'deep dive' into beneficiation technology for LD slags, highlighting methods such as magnetic separation and chemical leaching.

A seven-year case study on steel slag's use in concrete was shared, emphasising its durability. Discussions revolved around the challenges and potential solutions regarding the slags from new DRI furnaces, proposing methods like slag granulation.

Finally, exploration into the use of steel slag in concrete and the importance of its low free lime content for optimal performance was discussed.

Prizes for the best presentations were given at the end of day two.

First Place: Kelly Cook, Edw. C. Levy Co. - 'New approaches to characterisation and testing of EAF slags to increase utilisation, decarbonisation and profitability'.

Second Place: Arusha Ahmed Khan, Shun Shing Group - An overview of Asian and Middle Eastern slag markets’.

Third Place: David Algermissen, FEhS - 'Metallurgical slag treatment to produce a material for the cement industry from DRI-based steel production'.

Following the triumph of the first post-Covid Global Slag Conference in Düsseldorf in 2023, delegates expressed a desire for the 2024 edition to be held in Dubai.

Their anticipation of heightened interest and participation from delegates based in Asia was confirmed by the substantial turnout at the event in the Middle East.

The conference garnered significant acclaim for its healthy technical content, faultless organisation, and outstanding networking prospects.