Bremen on alert: Industry threatens to step back!

Bremen on alert: Industry threatens to step back!

At this year's summer reception of the Bremen Chamber of Employee on July 2, 2025, the mood was tense. Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte took the opportunity to urge the loss of the loss of industrial added value in Bremen. He called for a nationwide steel summit and expressed great concern about the decision of Arcelor-Littal to suspend the switch to hydrogen-based steel production in Bremen. This measure was seen as a serious alarm signal that not only puts jobs, but also industrial competence in the region. According to Bovenschulte, the transformation of the steel industry is a century task with ecological, economic and social relevance. He emphasized the urgency to provide the promised billions of billions with clear industrial policy objectives.

But why is the steel industry so crucial for Bremen's economic stability? The answer is obvious: the preservation of industrial jobs is closely linked to social cohesion. Bovenschulte also drawn attention to the upcoming problems, especially with regard to the planned deduction of central production areas at the Gestra company. These changes could have serious effects on the expertise and the existence of the employees concerned.

transformation process under pressure

The steel industry is one of the largest CO2 emitters worldwide and is responsible for around 7% of the total annual emissions. Arcelormittal has undertaken to promote environmentally friendly and CO2-free production processes, but the suspension of the change in Bremen announces difficult times. The company has set itself the goal of producing until 2050 climate -neutral steel. Comprehensive investments and political support are urgently needed to achieve this ambitious goal. ArcelorMittal plans to convert its systems and the use of hydrogen in combination with modern production processes to gradually replace the classic blast furnace route. They face technical and financial challenges that cannot be mastered without the expansion of an infrastructure for renewable energies.

According to an article from Arcelormittal Germany, the transformation is promoted at several locations, including Bremen, Eisenhüttenstadt, Duisburg and Hamburg. In these places, projects are to be realized that not only reduce ecological footprint, but also make a contribution to the EU climate goals. But it takes more: ensuring competitive conditions for renewable energies is essential.

innovations in the steel sector and their importance

An interesting development with regard to low -emission steel production can also be observed in Ghent, where the European investment bank has given a loan of 75 million euros to ArcelorMittal. This project aims at the production of green ethanol from exhaust gases, which can be used both as a fuel and as a chemical starting material. ArcelorMittal plans to put five power plants into operation in Europe by 2025, which, among other things, generate biodegradable ethanol. These projects could not only contribute to reducing CO2 emissions, but also secure jobs and attract specialists.

Nonetheless, it becomes clear that the challenges in the transformation of the steel industry are diverse. Bovenschulte calls for a joint effort from politics, business and society and thus expresses urgency to invest in people, good work and future technologies. Its message is unmistakable: the way to the sustainable solution is only possible with a strong cohesion and a focused industrial policy coordination at the federal level.

This means that it remains to be seen how the situation in Bremen and in the steel industry will develop as a whole. One thing is certain: the next steps are crucial to secure the future of industry and jobs in Bremen.