ECA is produced by heating raw anthracite to extremely high temperatures, typically between 1800°C and 2200°C, in an electric arc furnace.The process of electro-calcination is functionally similar to the traditional gas-fired method and produces a largely indistinguishable product. However, it operates as a continuous process, offering inherent efficiency advantages over conventional gas furnaces.

Due to its superior purity and low electrical resistivity, ECA is a high-quality carbonaceous material used in critical applications such as the production of carbon electrode paste (Söderberg paste) and other high-end carbon products. It is also widely used in foundries as a carbon raiser/recarburiser to enhance the carbon content of the melt.