(EN) The invention concerns an electric-arc furnace with an off-center taphole (26) through the bottom, designed for steel making and known under the name of an EBT furnace. It is comprised of a vat (4) for receiving the metal to be melted, and a protuberance (6) that prolongs the vat (4) laterally. A roof covers the protuberance (6). An upper wall prolongs the vertical wall of the vat (4). An arch (12) covers the upper walls of the vat (4), this arch (12) capable of being retracted laterally in a sweep zone, a taphole (26) being provided in the bottom of the provided protuberance (6). A closure device for the taphole (26) is comprised of a stopper (32), handling means for displacing the stopper (32) between a rest position, a waiting position in which the lower end of the stopper (32) is close to the taphole (26), and a closure position in which the stopper (32) closes off the entrance to the taphole (26), at least partially.
