Battery 2, which was commissioned in 1984, had been an important part of HKM’s production route for more than 40 years. With an annual production capacity of around 1.1 million tons of coke, the battery produced approximately 45 million tons of coke in total.
Andreas Betzler, Spokesman of the HKM Management Board, described the decommissioning of the battery as an important milestone in the company’s transformation. Betzler said the site will be adapted to a lower-carbon production structure in the future.
Coke production to continue with Battery 1
Following the decommissioning of Battery 2, HKM’s coke plant will not be completely shut down. Battery 1 will remain in operation and continue to supply the coke required for ongoing production.
The company said the decommissioning of Battery 2 will be carried out gradually and in a controlled manner, with employee safety, environmental protection and the protection of surrounding communities given priority throughout the process.
Production route to change with EAF from 2029
At the center of HKM’s transformation plan is an electric arc furnace (EAF) scheduled to come into operation from 2029. With the new production setup, the company’s demand for coke and pig iron is expected to decline, while the role of scrap and electricity in steel production will increase.
HKM said the transformation aims to prepare its Duisburg site for largely climate-neutral steel production in the long term.
The company has also been fully part of the Salzgitter Group since July 2026. The integration, together with the planned new plant setup, is expected to support the transition of production processes at the Duisburg site towards a lower-carbon structure
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