As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 6, 1998
                                                  Registration No. 333-     
=============================================================================

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549

                         ------------------------
                                 FORM S-8
                        Registration Statement No. 
                                   Under
                        The Securities Act of 1933

                         ------------------------

                    ROANOKE ELECTRIC STEEL CORPORATION
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Virginia                                54-0585263
   (State of other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer 
   incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)


                              P. O. Box 13948
                       Roanoke, Virginia 24038-3948
                              (540) 342-1831
       (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
          area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                                     
                         ------------------------

                              DONALD G. SMITH
        Chairman, President, Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer
                    Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation
                              P. O. Box 13948
                       Roanoke, Virginia 24038-3948
                              (540) 342-1831
    (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
                     area code, of agent for service)
                                     
                         ------------------------
                                 Copy to:

                              FAITH M. WILSON
                    WOODS, ROGERS & HAZLEGROVE, P.L.C.
                       First Union Tower, Suite 1400
                         10 South Jefferson Street
                         Roanoke, Virginia  24011
                              (540) 983-7633
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===========================================================================================================
                             Calculation of Registration Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum     Amount of 
Title of Securities to       Amount to be  Offering Price per  Aggregate Offering  Registration
be Registered                Registered(1)     Share(2)              Price             Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>                <C>                <C>               <C>
Common Stock, no par value   500,000 shares      $20.25            $10,125,000        $2,987
===========================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1)   Subject to being increased pursuant to antidilution provisions of the
      Employees' Stock Option Plan to reflect automatically, when applicable,
      any subsequent stock split, stock dividend or similar event.  
(2)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating registration fee. 
      Based on the average of the high and low prices of Company common stock
      reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on April 3, 1998.
<PAGE>
      This Registration Statement relates to 500,000 shares of Roanoke
Electric Steel Corporation Common Stock, no par value, to be offered and sold
pursuant to the Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation Employees' Stock Option
Plan.  


                   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENT BY REFERENCE

      The following documents filed by Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation
(File No. 0-2389) (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement:  (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31,
1997; (ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31,
1998; and (iii) Description of Company Common Stock contained in Registration
Statement on Form 10 dated January 23, 1967, and amended by Form 8 dated
November 28, 1987, including any further amendment or report filed for the
purpose of updating such description.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, subsequent to the date
hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, are hereby incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement and shall be deemed a part hereof from the date
of the filing of such documents.


                                LEGAL OPINION

      The legality of the Common Stock being registered hereby has been
passed upon by Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C., Roanoke, Virginia.  The
members of the firm of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C. and members of
their immediate families beneficially owned, as of March 31, 1998, in the
aggregate, approximately 30,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Company.


                                   EXPERTS

      The consolidated financial statements of Roanoke Electric Steel
Corporation and subsidiaries as of October 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of
the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 1997, have been
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 in
reliance upon the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent certified
public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.  


          INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

      Section 13.1-692.1 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act places a
limitation on the liability of officers and directors of a corporation in any
proceeding brought by or in the right of the corporation or brought by or on
behalf of shareholders of the corporation.  The damages assessed against an
officer or director arising out of a single transaction, occurrence, or
course of conduct shall not exceed the greater of $100,000 or the amount of
cash compensation received by the officer or director from the corporation
during the 12 months immediately preceding the act or omission for which
liability was imposed.  The statute also authorizes the corporation, in its
articles of incorporation or, if approved by the shareholders, in its bylaws,
<PAGE>
to provide for a different specific monetary limit on, or to eliminate
entirely, liability.  The liability of an officer or director shall not be
limited if the officer or director engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing
violation of the criminal law or any federal or state securities law.  The
Company has not taken action to establish a different limit on liability from
that set forth in the statute.

      Sections 13.1-697 and 13.1-702(2) of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act
permit any Virginia corporation to indemnify an officer or director against
liability incurred in a proceeding if such officer or director conducted
himself in good faith and believed (i) in the case of conduct in his official
capacity with the corporation, that his conduct was in its best interests;
and (ii) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to its
best interests.  In the case of a criminal proceeding, a corporation may
indemnify an officer or director made a party to such proceeding if he had no
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.  A corporation may
not indemnify an officer or director under Section 13.1-697 (i) in connection
with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which he was
adjudged liable to the corporation; or (ii) in connection with any other
proceeding charging improper personal benefit to him in which he was adjudged
liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him. 
Indemnification permitted under Section 13.1-697 in connection with a
proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.  Further, Virginia Code
Section 13.1-698 and 13.1-702(1) provide that, unless limited by its articles
of incorporation, a corporation is required to provide indemnification to an
officer or director who entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to
which he was a party because he is or was an officer or director of the
corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with
the proceeding.

      A corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred
by an officer or director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final
disposition of the proceeding if certain statements and undertakings are made
by the officer or director and a determination is made that the facts as then
known would not preclude indemnification.  Va. Code Section 13.1-699.  In
addition, an officer or director of the corporation who is a party to a
proceeding may apply for advances or reimbursement of expenses and for
indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or seek advances,
reimbursement, or indemnification in another court of competent jurisdiction. 
The court shall order advances, reimbursement, or indemnification if it
determines the officer or director is entitled to such advances,
reimbursement, or indemnification, in which case the court shall also order
the corporation to pay the officer's or director's reasonable expenses
incurred to obtain the order.  With respect to a proceeding by or in the
right of the corporation, the court may order indemnification to the extent
of the officer's or director's reasonable expenses if it determines that,
considering all the relevant circumstances, the officer or director is
entitled to indemnification even though he was adjudged liable, and may also
order the corporation to pay the officer's and director's reasonable expenses
incurred to obtain the order.  Va. Code Section 13.1-700.1.  In such a
proceeding, no presumption is created by the fact that either the corporation
has not considered the question of indemnification or that the corporation
has denied indemnification.  A corporation is given the power to make further
indemnity to any officers or directors that may be authorized by the articles
of incorporation or any bylaw made by the shareholders or any resolution
adopted, before or after the event, by the shareholders, except an indemnity
against the officer's or director's willful misconduct or a knowing violation
of the criminal law.  Va. Code Section 13.1-704.
<PAGE>
      The Company maintains two directors' and officers' legal liability
insurance policies.  The first, in the amount of $10 million, is issued by
Federal Insurance Company.  The Company also maintains an umbrella (excess)
policy in the amount of $25 million, also issued by Federal Insurance
Company.  Each policy provides coverage up to 100% of its face amount,
subject to certain deductible or retention amounts.  In general, the policies
insure (i) the Company's directors and officers against losses by reason of
their wrongful acts, and/or (ii) the Company against claims against the
directors and officers by reason of their wrongful acts for which the Company
is required to indemnify or pay, all as such terms are defined in the
policies and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein.  


                                  EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.             Description
-----------             -----------

4(a)                    Specimen copy of certificate for Roanoke
                        Electric Steel Corporation common stock, no par
                        value (incorporated herein by reference to
                        Exhibit 4(a) of Registration No. 333-25299,
                        filed with the Commission on April 16, 1997)

4(b)                    Article II of the Bylaws of Roanoke Electric
                        Steel Corporation, as amended, (incorporated
                        herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the
                        Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
                        ended October 31, 1996)

5                       Opinion of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C.

23(a)                   Consent of Woods, Rogers & 
                        Hazlegrove, P.L.C. (included in Exhibit (5))

23(b)                   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP


                                UNDERTAKINGS

      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

            (i)   To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
      the Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
      after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
      recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
      aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
      in the registration statement;

            (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
      plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
      statement or any material change to such information in the
      registration statement;
<PAGE>
      Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
      apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the
      information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
      those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
      registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
      registration statement.

      (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.

      (4)  If the registrant is a foreign private issuer, to file a post-
effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial
statements required by 3-19 of Regulation S-X at the start of any delayed
offering or throughout a continuous offering.

                          -------------------------


      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

                          -------------------------


      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
<PAGE>
                                 SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Roanoke, Commonwealth of Virginia,
on April 3, 1998.

                                   ROANOKE ELECTRIC STEEL CORPORATION


                                   By:  s/Donald G. Smith                    
                                      -----------------------------------
                                         Donald G. Smith
                                          Chairman, President, Treasurer
                                          and Chief Executive Officer


      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated as of April 3, 1998.

      Signature                                     Title
      ---------                                     -----


s/Donald G. Smith                        Chairman, President, Treasurer and 
------------------------------------     Chief Executive Officer (Principal
  (Donald G. Smith)                      Executive Officer, Principal
                                         Financial Officer) and Director

s/John E. Morris                         Vice President-Finance and
------------------------------------     (Principal Accounting Officer)
  (John E. Morris)                       Assistant Treasurer 


s/Frank A. Boxley                        Director
------------------------------------
  (Frank A. Boxley)


s/George B. Cartledge, Jr.               Director
------------------------------------
  (George B. Cartledge, Jr.)


s/George W. Logan                        Director
------------------------------------
  (George W. Logan)


s/Charles I. Lunsford, II                Director
------------------------------------
  (Charles I. Lunsford, II)


s/Thomas L. Robertson                    Director
------------------------------------
  (Thomas L. Robertson)
<PAGE>

s/Paul E. Torgersen                      Director
------------------------------------
  (Paul E. Torgersen)


s/John D. Wilson                         Director
------------------------------------
  (John D. Wilson)

<PAGE>
                                EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                             

Exhibit No.             Description
-----------             ------------

4(a)                    Specimen copy of certificate for Roanoke Electric
                        Steel Corporation common stock, no par value
                        (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a)
                        of Registration No. 333-25299, filed with the
                        Commission on April 16, 1997)

4(b)                    Article II of the Bylaws of Roanoke Electric
                        Steel Corporation, as amended, (incorporated
                        herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the Annual
                        Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                        October 31, 1996)

5                       Opinion of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C.

23(a)                   Consent of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C.
                        (included in Exhibit (5))

23(b)                   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
<PAGE>
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 6, 1998
                                                  Registration No. 333-     
=============================================================================

                    SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                          Washington, D.C. 20549

                         ------------------------
                                 FORM S-8
                        Registration Statement No. 
                                   Under
                        The Securities Act of 1933

                         ------------------------

                    ROANOKE ELECTRIC STEEL CORPORATION
          (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Virginia                                54-0585263
   (State of other jurisdiction of               (I.R.S. Employer 
   incorporation or organization)                Identification No.)

                              P. O. Box 13948
                       Roanoke, Virginia 24038-3948
                              (540) 342-1831
       (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
          area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                                     
                         ------------------------

                              DONALD G. SMITH
        Chairman, President, Treasurer and Chief Executive Officer
                    Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation
                              P. O. Box 13948
                       Roanoke, Virginia 24038-3948
                              (540) 342-1831
    (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
                     area code, of agent for service)
                                     
                         ------------------------
                                 Copy to:

                              FAITH M. WILSON
                    WOODS, ROGERS & HAZLEGROVE, P.L.C.
                       First Union Tower, Suite 1400
                         10 South Jefferson Street
                         Roanoke, Virginia  24011
                              (540) 983-7633
===========================================================================================================
                             Calculation of Registration Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum     Amount of 
Title of Securities to       Amount to be  Offering Price per  Aggregate Offering  Registration
be Registered                Registered(1)     Share(2)              Price             Fee
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, no par value   500,000 shares      $20.25            $10,125,000        $2,987
===========================================================================================================
(1)   Subject to being increased pursuant to antidilution provisions of the
      Employees' Stock Option Plan to reflect automatically, when applicable,
      any subsequent stock split, stock dividend or similar event.  
(2)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating registration fee. 
      Based on the average of the high and low prices of Company common stock
      reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on April 3, 1998.
This Registration Statement relates to 500,000 shares of Roanoke
Electric Steel Corporation Common Stock, no par value, to be offered and sold
pursuant to the Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation Employees' Stock Option
Plan.  

                   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENT BY REFERENCE

      The following documents filed by Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation
(File No. 0-2389) (the "Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement:  (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31,
1997; (ii) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31,
1998; and (iii) Description of Company Common Stock contained in Registration
Statement on Form 10 dated January 23, 1967, and amended by Form 8 dated
November 28, 1987, including any further amendment or report filed for the
purpose of updating such description.

      All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, subsequent to the date
hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all
securities then remaining unsold, are hereby incorporated by reference into
this Registration Statement and shall be deemed a part hereof from the date
of the filing of such documents.

                                LEGAL OPINION

      The legality of the Common Stock being registered hereby has been
passed upon by Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C., Roanoke, Virginia.  The
members of the firm of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C. and members of
their immediate families beneficially owned, as of March 31, 1998, in the
aggregate, approximately 30,000 shares of the Common Stock of the Company.

                                   EXPERTS

      The consolidated financial statements of Roanoke Electric Steel
Corporation and subsidiaries as of October 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of
the years in the three-year period ended October 31, 1997, have been
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 in
reliance upon the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent certified
public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.  

          INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

      Section 13.1-692.1 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act places a
limitation on the liability of officers and directors of a corporation in any
proceeding brought by or in the right of the corporation or brought by or on
behalf of shareholders of the corporation.  The damages assessed against an
officer or director arising out of a single transaction, occurrence, or
course of conduct shall not exceed the greater of $100,000 or the amount of
cash compensation received by the officer or director from the corporation
during the 12 months immediately preceding the act or omission for which
liability was imposed.  The statute also authorizes the corporation, in its
articles of incorporation or, if approved by the shareholders, in its bylaws,
to provide for a different specific monetary limit on, or to eliminate
entirely, liability.  The liability of an officer or director shall not be
limited if the officer or director engaged in willful misconduct or a knowing
violation of the criminal law or any federal or state securities law.  The
Company has not taken action to establish a different limit on liability from
that set forth in the statute.

      Sections 13.1-697 and 13.1-702(2) of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act
permit any Virginia corporation to indemnify an officer or director against
liability incurred in a proceeding if such officer or director conducted
himself in good faith and believed (i) in the case of conduct in his official
capacity with the corporation, that his conduct was in its best interests;
and (ii) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to its
best interests.  In the case of a criminal proceeding, a corporation may
indemnify an officer or director made a party to such proceeding if he had no
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.  A corporation may
not indemnify an officer or director under Section 13.1-697 (i) in connection
with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which he was
adjudged liable to the corporation; or (ii) in connection with any other
proceeding charging improper personal benefit to him in which he was adjudged
liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him. 
Indemnification permitted under Section 13.1-697 in connection with a
proceeding by or in the right of the corporation is limited to reasonable
expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding.  Further, Virginia Code
Section 13.1-698 and 13.1-702(1) provide that, unless limited by its articles
of incorporation, a corporation is required to provide indemnification to an
officer or director who entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to
which he was a party because he is or was an officer or director of the
corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with
the proceeding.

      A corporation may pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred
by an officer or director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final
disposition of the proceeding if certain statements and undertakings are made
by the officer or director and a determination is made that the facts as then
known would not preclude indemnification.  Va. Code Section 13.1-699.  In
addition, an officer or director of the corporation who is a party to a
proceeding may apply for advances or reimbursement of expenses and for
indemnification to the court conducting the proceeding or seek advances,
reimbursement, or indemnification in another court of competent jurisdiction. 
The court shall order advances, reimbursement, or indemnification if it
determines the officer or director is entitled to such advances,
reimbursement, or indemnification, in which case the court shall also order
the corporation to pay the officer's or director's reasonable expenses
incurred to obtain the order.  With respect to a proceeding by or in the
right of the corporation, the court may order indemnification to the extent
of the officer's or director's reasonable expenses if it determines that,
considering all the relevant circumstances, the officer or director is
entitled to indemnification even though he was adjudged liable, and may also
order the corporation to pay the officer's and director's reasonable expenses
incurred to obtain the order.  Va. Code Section 13.1-700.1.  In such a
proceeding, no presumption is created by the fact that either the corporation
has not considered the question of indemnification or that the corporation
has denied indemnification.  A corporation is given the power to make further
indemnity to any officers or directors that may be authorized by the articles
of incorporation or any bylaw made by the shareholders or any resolution
adopted, before or after the event, by the shareholders, except an indemnity
against the officer's or director's willful misconduct or a knowing violation
of the criminal law.  Va. Code Section 13.1-704.
The Company maintains two directors' and officers' legal liability
insurance policies.  The first, in the amount of $10 million, is issued by
Federal Insurance Company.  The Company also maintains an umbrella (excess)
policy in the amount of $25 million, also issued by Federal Insurance
Company.  Each policy provides coverage up to 100% of its face amount,
subject to certain deductible or retention amounts.  In general, the policies
insure (i) the Company's directors and officers against losses by reason of
their wrongful acts, and/or (ii) the Company against claims against the
directors and officers by reason of their wrongful acts for which the Company
is required to indemnify or pay, all as such terms are defined in the
policies and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein.  

                                  EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.             Description
-----------             -----------

4(a)                    Specimen copy of certificate for Roanoke
                        Electric Steel Corporation common stock, no par
                        value (incorporated herein by reference to
                        Exhibit 4(a) of Registration No. 333-25299,
                        filed with the Commission on April 16, 1997)

4(b)                    Article II of the Bylaws of Roanoke Electric
                        Steel Corporation, as amended, (incorporated
                        herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the
                        Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
                        ended October 31, 1996)

5                       Opinion of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C.

23(a)                   Consent of Woods, Rogers & 
                        Hazlegrove, P.L.C. (included in Exhibit (5))

23(b)                   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

                                UNDERTAKINGS

      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

      (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

            (i)   To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
      the Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
      after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
      recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
      aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
      in the registration statement;

            (iii) To include any material information with respect to the
      plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
      statement or any material change to such information in the
      registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
      apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8, and the
      information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
      those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
      registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
      registration statement.

      (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.

      (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.

      (4)  If the registrant is a foreign private issuer, to file a post-
effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial
statements required by 3-19 of Regulation S-X at the start of any delayed
offering or throughout a continuous offering.

                          -------------------------

      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of
the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.

                          -------------------------

      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment of
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant
will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by
controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Roanoke, Commonwealth of Virginia,
on April 3, 1998.

                                   ROANOKE ELECTRIC STEEL CORPORATION

                                   By:  s/Donald G. Smith                    
                                      -----------------------------------
                                         Donald G. Smith
                                          Chairman, President, Treasurer
                                          and Chief Executive Officer

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated as of April 3, 1998.

      Signature                                     Title
      ---------                                     -----

s/Donald G. Smith                        Chairman, President, Treasurer and 
------------------------------------     Chief Executive Officer (Principal
  (Donald G. Smith)                      Executive Officer, Principal
                                         Financial Officer) and Director

s/John E. Morris                         Vice President-Finance and
------------------------------------     (Principal Accounting Officer)
  (John E. Morris)                       Assistant Treasurer 

s/Frank A. Boxley                        Director
------------------------------------
  (Frank A. Boxley)

s/George B. Cartledge, Jr.               Director
------------------------------------
  (George B. Cartledge, Jr.)

s/George W. Logan                        Director
------------------------------------
  (George W. Logan)

s/Charles I. Lunsford, II                Director
------------------------------------
  (Charles I. Lunsford, II)

s/Thomas L. Robertson                    Director
------------------------------------
  (Thomas L. Robertson)
s/Paul E. Torgersen                      Director
------------------------------------
  (Paul E. Torgersen)

s/John D. Wilson                         Director
------------------------------------
  (John D. Wilson)
EXHIBIT INDEX

                                                                             

Exhibit No.             Description
-----------             ------------

4(a)                    Specimen copy of certificate for Roanoke Electric
                        Steel Corporation common stock, no par value
                        (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a)
                        of Registration No. 333-25299, filed with the
                        Commission on April 16, 1997)

4(b)                    Article II of the Bylaws of Roanoke Electric
                        Steel Corporation, as amended, (incorporated
                        herein by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the Annual
                        Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                        October 31, 1996)

5                       Opinion of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C.

23(a)                   Consent of Woods, Rogers & Hazlegrove, P.L.C.
                        (included in Exhibit (5))

23(b)                   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP