The global steel giant ArcelorMittal, announced its intention to invest 1.2 billion euros to set up an electric oven on its Dunkirk site. This decision comes as the multinational is going through a period of turbulence, marked by the announcement of the abolition of 600 positions in France. With this investment, ArcelorMittal could strengthen the competitiveness of its site in the north of France, while continuing its decarbonation strategy.
A desire to perpetuate French sites
“We produce where our consumers are located”argued Alain Le Grix, president of ArcelorMittal in France, while ensuring the strategic importance of the French sites for the group. With this project, the steelmaker intends to reassure the sustainability of his activities in France, despite the current economic challenges.
Alain Le Grix was confident about the future, saying that the upcoming implementation of the steel plan presented by the European Commission will give competitiveness to French sites. Among the measures provided by Brussels, the limitation of imports of Chinese steel and a carbon adjustment mechanism to the borders are particularly expected. “The steel plan presented by the European Commission shows that the authorities are aware of our difficulties”he said.
An ambitious project for a decarbona steel industry
The Dunkirk electric oven, scheduled for 2028, is expected to produce around 2 million tonnes of steel per year. This investment is part of a broader decarbonization plan, which the group had temporarily suspended due to the lack of sufficient economic support. The displayed objective is to reduce the carbon footprint of production, by replacing the high stoves powered by coal with cleaner technologies, using gas or hydrogen.
However, this new investment remains conditioned to “The concrete implementation of (European) measures, probably after the summer, to definitively launch our investment”said Alain Le Grix. Despite this ambitious project, the president of ArcelorMittal in France wanted to clarify that the plan to suppress posts was relevant, the group deeming these two distinct approaches. A plan that arouses the anger of the employees of the Dunkirk site and the unions, who plan to maintain the pressure since their large-scale mobilization of the May 1.
