France – ArcelorMittal’s decarbonization program in France, which includes a €1.7 billion investment in its Fos-sur-Mer and Dunkirk sites, is being supported by the French government.
By 2030, this investment will enable a profound transformation of steelmaking in France, with ArcelorMittal’s CO2 emissions in France reduced by nearly 40%, or 7.8 million tonnes per year. This transformation will result in a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from France’s manufacturing sector, putting France’s steelmaking industry on track to meet the Paris Agreement’s goals.
Steelmaking operations will be transformed, resulting in positive and long-term employment and industrial activity in France, particularly in the Dunkirk and Fos-sur-Mer areas. By 2030, ArcelorMittal plans to invest €1.7 billion to accelerate the decarbonization of its steelmaking sites in Fos-sur-Mer and Dunkirk while maintaining equivalent production capacity.
ArcelorMittal will construct an Electric Arc Furnace in Fos-sur-Mer (EAF). This new unit will complement the ladle furnace that was announced in March and is part of France’s ‘France Relance’ recovery plan. Fos-sur-Mer will become a reference site for the production of low carbon, circular steel made from recycled steel as a result of these investments.
ArcelorMittal will construct a 2.5 million tonne Direct Reduction of Iron (DRI) unit in Dunkirk to transform iron ore instead of coal. This DRI will be supplemented by an electric furnace with cutting-edge technology and a third Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). Other investments are already being made to increase the amount of scrap steel that is used.
Beginning in 2027, the new industrial facilities will gradually replace three of ArcelorMittal’s five blast furnaces in France by 2030.
Carbon neutrality
The decarbonization of the Fos-sur-Mer and Dunkirk sites will help to keep and grow the French steelmaking industry. It will also help to strengthen and develop local ecosystems, resulting in positive and long-term employment and industrial activity in France, particularly in the areas of Dunkirk and Fos-sur-Mer.
ArcelorMittal’s French operations have already begun work on a second phase of their decarbonization program, which will combine the technologies used in the first phase with carbon capture, storage, or utilization (CCUS) technologies, assuming the technology matures and regulatory approval is obtained. By taking this second step, ArcelorMittal’s French operations will be carbon neutral by 2050.
The projects’ collaboration between ArcelorMittal and the French government is contingent on EU approval, which is expected in the second quarter of this year, as well as the availability of cost-effective energy infrastructure and supply.
ArcelorMittal is committed to combating climate change and has set ambitious goals, including a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions in Europe by 2030 and a -25% reduction globally by 2050, as well as carbon neutrality by 2050.
