Production of ferro-alloys

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a ferro-alloy in an electric arc furnace or other suitable metallurgical furnace. The method comprises supplying a mixture of a carbon-containing polymer that is capable of acting as a slag foaming agent and comprises any one or more of rubber (synthetic or natural), polypropylene, polystyrene and polybutadiene styrene and another source of carbon comprising any one or more of coke, carbon char, charcoal and graphite into the furnace during at least a part of one or more power-on phases of the method. The time to commence supply of the mixture of the carbon-containing polymer and the other carbon source during the power-on phase is assessed based on any one or more of the power consumption of the furnace, the composition of the melt in the furnace, and the melt temperature. The ferro-alloy may be steel.