In culmination of the persistent efforts to protect the environment, and recycle the industrial wastes, resulted from its steel manufacturing, for a better reuse and  investment, Qatar Steel held, on 11th April, 2017, a seminar on the optimization of steel slag in constructions and road asphalting.

Attended the event were Dr. Eng. Saad Ahmed Ibrahim Al Mohannadi, President of Public Works Authority (Ashghal),     Dr Mohamed bin Saif Al-Kuwari, Assistant Undersecretary for laboratories and Standardization at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment,  Head of Environmental and Municipal Studies Institute. Present at the event were also officials from Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Ashghal, Transport Research Laboratory, UK (TRL), and specialists from construction industry.  From Qatar Steel, the seminar was attended by department managers as well as a number of senior staff.

Speaking on this event, Mr. Ali Bin Hassan Al-Muraikhi, Qatar Steel’s Managing Director and General Manager, declared that the company generates during its steel making process about 350,000 MT/ annum of by-product, called Steel slag, which has necessarily to be recycled, reused and best utilized.

Therefore, a research project was initiated in Jan 2015, in collaboration with Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Public Works Authority (Ashghal), and Transport Research Laboratory-UK (TRL) and a range of specialists from building and construction industry. The project aimed to prove the potential applicability of steel slag, as an aggregate in constructions, in replacement of imported aggregate.

Mr. Al-Muraikhi pointed out that the project was designed in two phases: The first phase included conducting a laboratory investigation to develop slag asphalt and concrete mixes by replacing 40% of the imported aggregate. Additional road sub-base mixes were developed by replacing the dune sand with slag fine aggregate. The laboratory results indicated compliance with the Qatar Construction Specifications (QCS 2014).

In the second phase. a pilot road (600 m x 10 m) was constructed in Oct. 2016 inside Qatar Steel premises in Mesaeed, by Ashghal, approved contractor “Boom Construction”, using steel slag in sub-base, asphalt and concrete applications.

“In this seminar, key stakeholders from concerned authorities presented the outcome of this research project. They proved the applicability to use steel slag, as an aggregate in construction applications, and its compliance as per Qatar Construction Specifications. They even recommended this product as a sustainable solution for constructions, asphalt and concrete applications, to achieve sustainable economic and industrial development, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.” Mr. Al-Muraikhi added.
It is worth mentioning that Qatar Steel has gained an outstanding reputation, as a leading steel producer, in local and regional markets, due to its high quality products, competitive prices and distinguished customer service.