A plant for the continuous manufacture of steel includes a direct reduction furnace for producing direct reduced iron (DRI) and a stationary electric arc furnace for melting the DRI. The electric arc furnace has a plurality of electrodes for melting the DRI. Heat for melting the charge material is preferably provided by open arcs between the electrodes and the metal bath. The slag preferably has low basicity to reduce the rate of refractory erosion, and preferably contains about 8 to 20% by weight MgO, about 7 to 30% by weight FeO and has a basicity of about 1.5 to 2.0. Preferably, the direct reduction furnace is a shaft furnace and is located above the electric arc furnace so that the direct reduced iron can be fed to the electric arc furnace by gravity through inclined conduits.