Final answer:
The greatest expense involved in running a steel factory is typically energy consumption due to the high energy input required for steel production processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the greatest expenses in running a steel factory is energy consumption. Energy costs are a substantial part of the operational costs for a steel factory since large amounts of energy are required for the intense heat and power necessary to process iron ore into steel. Factors of production such as land, labor, and capital, which include raw materials and machinery, are critical in the profitability of companies, and energy is a key component of these production costs.
The manufacture of steel is an energy-intensive process. Furnaces must reach high temperatures to produce steel, and thus require significant energy input. While labor and raw materials are also major expenses, the continuous and intensive energy needs often eclipse these other costs.
Therefore, the answer to the question is C) Energy consumption.