ArcelorMittal has begun work on an electric arc furnace (EAF) for long products at its Gijón plant in Spain.
The new facility is costing EUR 213 million and is expected to produce its first heat in the first quarter of 2026. It will be the first major EAF project within the company’s decarbonisation programme in Europe. It will enable ArcelorMittal to produce rails and wire rod.
CO2 reduction
Aswell as reducing CO2 emissions by using scrap and direct reduced iron, electricity will be generated from wind and solar power, when available.
In the first stage, steel production through the new EAF will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions of over 35% and ArcelorMittal says this could reach one million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year once the transition phase has been completed.
Growing demand
Speaking at the event, Sanjay Samaddar, ceo of ArcelorMittal Europe Long Products, said: ‘This investment will lead to the implementation in Gijón of the latest technology for EAFs and will contribute to our ability to meet the growing demand for low-carbon emissions rails and wire rod from our customers in the automotive, construction and rail infrastructure sectors, among others. Particularly in sectors with stringent carbon criteria for public procurement contracts.’
The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by the president of Asturias, Adrián Barbón, the special commissioner for industrial decarbonisation, Luis Ángel Colunga and the mayor of Gijón, Carmen Moriyón.
Don't hesitate to contact us to share your input and ideas. Subscribe to the magazine or (free) newsletter.
Loading ...
