ArcelorMittal accelerates Fos’ decarbonisation through hydrogen

ArcelorMittal France is accelerating the decarbonisation of its steel processing through hydrogen. Spanish engineering company Idom has been contracted by “GravitHy”, the joint venture created last year by a consortium of energy and steel-related companies, to produce the pre-feasibility studies to build a green hydrogen-based direct reduced and hot briquetted iron (DRI/HBI) facility at the steelmaker’s plant in Fos-sur-Mer, southern France, Kallanish notes.

The plant will generate green and low-carbon hydrogen to produce DRI that will be used either on-site as a feedstock for green steelmaking or traded globally as HBI. Construction is set to begin in 2024 for commissioning in 2027. The future facility is planned to have an annual throughput of 2 million tonnes of DRI. Located on the Mediterranean coast, the plant will have direct access to European trading markets.

Last year a consortium of European companies established the GravitHy joint venture to build the hydrogen and DRI plant at Fos. GravitHy’s shareholders include companies such as EIT InnoEnergy, Engie New Ventures, Forvia, Idec, Plug, and equipment maker Primetals Technologies. The JV plans to intercept about €2.2 billion ($2.3 billion) of EU funding for the clean energy transition to build the new H2 and DRI facility.

“The PFS will consist of the preliminary engineering, project implementation strategy and CAPEX/OPEX development, which will allow GravitHy to prepare a solid dossier for the permitting process, define core packages, mitigate risks, validate key business fundamentals as well as to advance in the project financing” Idom explains in a note.

Natalia Capra France