The Swedish Court of Appeal for Land and Environmental Issues has ruled that SSAB has received permission to build and operate a new steel mill in Luleda. This decision eliminated the legal ambiguities related to the construction of an electric arc furnace (EDP) installation, which should replace the company's existing blast furnace production.
In December 2024, SSAB received a construction permit for the new facility from the Umeå District Court's Land and Environment Court. This permit allowed the company to ensure its long-term competitiveness and reduce carbon dioxide emissions during production by up to 90%. However, the decision was appealed, and the case was referred to the Court of Appeal for Land and Environmental Issues.
The Court of Appeal reviewed the written statements of the parties, issued its ruling and upheld the original decision. This allowed SSAB to continue its work at the new facility without interruption after Part A of the permit was activated in June. On September 17, an official groundbreaking ceremony was held in Lulea, attended by Swedish Minister of Energy, Business and Industry Ebba Bush
.Carl Orrling, president of SSAB, Technical director and head of Transformation, welcomed the court's decision, stating: "We are pleased that the Court of Appeal has reviewed the outstanding issues related to the construction permit for our new steel mill in Luleå. Eliminating this uncertainty ensures clarity and stability in our transformation process. The new facility will provide higher profitability, a more attractive range of high-quality steels, and greater flexibility in managing fluctuations in demand. As soon as we close the existing production, we will practically eliminate the emissions of carbon dioxide in Lulea."
In its ruling, the court also stressed that the location was suitable for installation and that the electric arc furnaces met the criteria of "the best available technology." It was further noted that the monitoring of emissions would not be provided exclusively to the supervisory authority, but would be regulated in detail in accordance with the permit. These frameworks do not define the monitoring method, but rather the scope of its application, according to which it is included in the permit.
Sarah Arvidson, head of SSAB's Environment and Energy Department, said that this decision gives the project additional momentum: "We are very pleased that the Court of Appeal has approved our permit and that the transformation project can proceed as planned. After commissioning, certain inspections will be carried out during the trial period.
