ArcelorMittal modernises coke plant amid energy transition

ArcelorMittal Poland (AMP) is carrying out a PLN 165 million ($38.5m) modernisation of its Zdzieszowice coke plant, including adding three flue gas denitrification installations that will significantly reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, the firm says. The coke oven gas fires a cogeneration plant (CHP) that supplies heat to around 7,000 people in the neighbouring town.

“We are working on new technologies, such as combining direct reduction of iron with electric furnaces, thanks to which we will decarbonise our processes, but at the same time we are reducing emissions from currently operating installations,” AMP chief executive Frederik Van De Velde says in a note seen by Kallanish. “We will continue to use coke in our processes until we move to low-carbon steel production.”

ArcelorMittal Europe announced in 2021 it was looking to convert AMP’s flagship Dabrowa Gornicza works from a blast furnace-based into a direct reduction-EAF route operation.

In addition to carrying out works at the CHP, AMP is also starting the reconstruction of the coke-oven gas equalisation tank, whose main task is to stabilise the fuel gas pressure in the coking plant. The tank will replace the currently operating twin facility, which requires renovation.

In December, AMP contracted a consortium of Remak-Energomontaz and Zarmen to carry out maintenance on its Dabrowa Gornicza slag granulation units and Zdzieszowice coke plant boiler and gas tank (see Kallanish passim). The repair of the K3 – ECII boiler at Zdzieszowice should be completed by January 2025, while gas tank no.3 at the coke plant should be repaired by December 2025.

Earlier this month, AMP said it will idle its Dabrowa Gornicza plant’s blast furnace no.2 at the end of March for long-awaited maintenance costing over PLN 720m.

Adam Smith Poland