ArcelorMittal confirms 1.3 billion euro investment in Dunkirk arc furnace
ArcelorMittal has officially confirmed that an electric arc furnace (EDP) will be built at its steel mill in Dunkirk, France. According to the company, the 1.3 billion euro investment is considered an important milestone in the decarbonization process of ArcelorMittal's steel production in France. On the day the investment decision was announced, ArcelorMittal hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at the Dunkirk plant. The visit was also attended by Roland Lescure, Minister of Economy, Finance, Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, and Sebastien Martin, Deputy Minister of Industry. President Macron was greeted by Rainer Blacek, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products; Anne van Isendyk, Head of Government and Environment Relations; Alain Le Grix de la Salle, President of ArcelorMittal France; and Bruno Ribot, CEO of ArcelorMittal France. The commissioning of an electric arc furnace with a capacity of 2 million tons per year is scheduled for 2029. The plant will use a mixture of scrap, HBI/DRI and cast iron, which will produce products with about three times lower CO₂ emissions compared to blast furnaces. CO₂ emissions from the electric arc furnace are expected to be about 0.6 tons per ton of steel. The investments will be supported by the Energy Efficiency Certificates (CEE) mechanism, which encourages energy savings and emission reductions, and this support is expected to cover approximately 50% of the total cost of the investment. The company stressed that recent policy changes at the European Union level have played a crucial role in making the investment decision. It was stated that the European Commission's proposals to limit unfair imports through a tariff quota mechanism and reform the carbon boundary regulation mechanism are aimed at creating a more predictable environment for the European steel industry. ArcelorMittal noted that the full and effective implementation of these measures is crucial for restoring fair competition in the European steel market. Another key factor that was highlighted was the long-term electricity supply agreement signed with EDF. Ensuring the supply of electricity with low carbon emissions and competitive prices was described as a fundamental step in ArcelorMittal France's energy strategy. The company stated that the combination of these three factors provided the confidence needed to approve the investment in Dunkirk. Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal, said that the 1.3 billion euro investment in Dunkirk clearly demonstrates the group's long-term commitment to France. He thanked President Macron and the French government.