ArcelorMittal tilts hydrogen plans: setback for Bremen steel industry!

ArcelorMittal tilts hydrogen plans: setback for Bremen steel industry!

What happens at ArcelorMittal in Bremen creates split opinions and concerns in industry. The steel giant recently canceled its plans to switch to steel production with green hydrogen. Concerns us directly, because the originally billion -dollar project should have replaced the blast furnaces in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt by 2030. Now the group does not use the promised public funding of 1.3 billion euros, such as EcorePorter .

The decision was made due to the lack of economy and the uncertain availability of green hydrogen at reasonable prices. This is not only a setback for ArcelorMittal, but also for the latest hydrogen initiatives in Germany, to improve the CO2 balance in steel production. The steel sector is responsible for around 30 percent of the CO₂ emissions of industry, and in a country like Germany that is considered the leading production site in the EU, this is a major role.

strong reactions from politics

The withdrawal of the plans has already led to Harscher criticism from the Bremen Senate. Mayor referred to the decision as a "severe blow" for the business location and the employees. Brandenburg's Prime Minister has also spoken out and announced that he is committed to the Joberhalt. The cancellation meets at a time when the industry has to struggle with high energy costs and international competition, especially through cheaper providers from China, hard.

It is also not very gratifying that ArcelorMittal is not the only manufacturer who is faced with such challenges. In contrast to ArcelorMittal, competitors such as Salzgitter Flachstahl and Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe have received funding notices of 5.6 billion euros and are already implementing their projects. The head of the European flat steel division of ArcelorMittal also made it clear that the framework conditions are currently not offering a sustainable business model for the switch to green steel production.

The job market under pressure

Another important aspect that emerges from a current examination of the German hydrogen and fuel cell association is the effect of the switch to low-emission steel production on the labor market. This study fears that many workplaces in the industry are at risk without clear and profitable perspectives in green hydrogen production. The steel industry in Germany currently employs around 88,000 people, which underlines the relevance of the industry.

summarized it can be said that Arcelormittal's withdrawal from hydrogen steel production could not only have far-reaching consequences for the company itself, but also for the entire industry and the affected jobs. While other manufacturers are driving their projects forward, it remains to be seen how ArcelorMittal and politics will react to the changed framework conditions.