Eisenhüttenstadt in fear: Arcelor-littal stops green steel plans!

Eisenhüttenstadt in fear: Arcelor-littal stops green steel plans!

In the warm rolling mill in Eisenhüttenstadt there is great restlessness: Arcelor-Lit Valley has announced that it can cope with CO2-reduced and climate-neutral steel production at its German locations in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt. This is the same as a violent setback for the steel industry, which is already severely affected by the challenges of the market. IG Metall (IGM) expresses sharp criticism and calls for a crisis summit to re -look at the future of the industry. The background to the drastic decision of the steel giant is that the construction of electric laying stoves and direct reduction systems is not competitive under the current framework conditions, as Junge Welt

The changeover to sustainable production processes was originally part of a billion -dollar project. ArcelorMittal had received funding of 1.3 billion euros from the federal government and the state of Bremen to implement sustainable technologies, such as the use of hydrogen for reducing iron ore. But now the company is setting its plans for "lack of economy and low availability of hydrogen", which endangers the future of many jobs.

consequences for the employees and the industry

In Bremen, around 10,000 jobs are directly or indirectly bound to the steel industry and its suppliers. That makes the decision all the more bitter for the employees: inside. The Bremen Senate has already asked Arcelor-Lordtal about their other plans, while Mayor and other politicians call the step backwards as a severe blow to the Bremen business location. The Bremen Senate also provides 250 million euros for the conversion of the production facilities, while an additional 600 million euros are planned by the federal government.

The IG Metall criticizes the decision as strategically short -sighted and demands that the decarbonization of the steel industry must be brought to the center of the political agenda. IGM-Vice Jürgen Kerner would like a serious discussion about the need for green steel production that was to be considered as a project of the century.

While Arcelor-Lordtal backs up, it looks different with other providers. The Stahl-Holding Saar has received all the necessary permits for the construction of electrical stoves worth 2.4 billion euros, while Thyssen-Krupp continues to stick to its green steel plans and is planning a direct reduction system in Duisburg. The environmental report of Wood Mackenzie also emphasizes the necessary change in the steel industry by decarbonization, whereby the proportion of low-CO2 production in the arc stove is to increase from currently 28% to 50%, which requires investments of $ 130 billion, such as [Environmental dialog] (https://www.umweltdialog.de/de/Umwelt/Klimawandel/2023/stahl industrie-darbonization-werd-zlieferketten-bis-2050-neu-definen.php)

look into the future

The current situation also raises questions about the measures of the federal government. While the Arcelor-Mittal decision is perceived as a step backwards at a time when the steel industry has long been pushed for a modernization course, many in the industry see the need to achieve CO2 reduction targets by 2030. "Steel production is currently the largest CO2 issuer in Germany," says the criticism, which underlines that there is an urgent need for action.

What remains is the uncertainty for the employees in Eisenhüttenstadt, which, according to the company, can recover after 2030 at the earliest. Practical support on the part of politics would be quite important to promote the necessary transformation in the steel industry. Bremen steelworks are already planning rallies in front of the work gate to express their displeasure. The industry is facing a test, and the will for decarbonization is now more important than ever.