ArcelorMittal Spain’s hybrid EAF project receives environmental approval

ArcelorMittal has received the positive environmental impact statement (EIS) for the installation of a hybrid electric arc furnace at its Gijón plant in Spain, Kallanish learns from the Asturian regional government.

The project, which is a priority for the steelmaker’s CO2 emissions reduction goals in Europe, is still awaiting Spain’s €500 million ($530.4m) co-funding contribution as part of the national government’s recovery and resilience plan.

The old converters of the plant will be able to work simultaneously with the future hybrid EAF for a maximum of 12 months once it starts operations. During this period, “ArcelorMittal must extremely control its emissions with appropriate measures to guarantee the effectiveness of the capturing and purifying systems,” says a note in the Asturian government’s official gazette, BOPA.

In case of activation of the Pollution Protocol in Asturias following unfavourable weather conditions, the steelmaker must stop the use of scrap and avoid any planned maintenance activities or operational start-up processes.

The Environmental Determination will lose its validity if the execution of the project has not begun within a period of four years, starting from 13 December, the Asturian government confirms.

The €1 billion investment includes constructing a 2.3 million tonnes/year green hydrogen-based direct reduced iron unit, complemented by the 1.1m t/y hybrid EAF. The new DRI unit will be the first of its kind in Spain and will also feed the company’s Sestao works.

Todor Kirkov Bulgaria