To save electrical energy and improve the metal yield when making stainless steel in an electric arc furnace a new process was developed and tested under industrial conditions. This involves injecting a reagent (fine grained aluminium or calcium carbide) into the molten slag. The injection of aluminium causes exothermic reduction of the chromium in the slag. The formation of metallic chromium makes it possible to save on costly alloying elements to adjust the chromium content in the steel, while the reduction of the chromium oxide contained in the slag improves the foamability of the slag during injection of coal and oxygen, which additionally contributes to saving electrical energy.