The European Commission has approved a €280 million subsidy for the partial decarbonisation of two blast furnaces at ArcelorMittal's Belgian unit. The funds will be used to build a direct reduction iron (DRI) plant by 2026.
The capacity of the plant is expected to be 2.3 million tonnes. The plant will operate using DRI-EAF technology, which combines the operation of a direct iron reduction unit and an electric arc furnace. The EAF is also planned to be commissioned in 2026.
These units will need to replace one of the blast furnaces. Subsequently, the second one is also expected to be replaced and the plant is expected to completely switch to the use of hydrogen only or a mixture of hydrogen and natural gas.
ArcelorMittal's Belgian unit is actively involved in the decarbonisation of production. Thus, in December 2022, the Steelanol plant, which converts carbon dioxide into ethanol, was put into operation at ArcelorMittal Ghent. The declared capacity of the plant reaches 80 million litres per year.
In 2023, the company plans to commission the Torero plant at a cost of EUR 35 million. This plant will produce biomass from wood waste that can be used in blast furnaces instead of coke. In 2025, a second such unit may appear at the plant.
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