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Steel giant ArcelorMittal stops decarbonization in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt!
ArcelorMittal is stopping decarbonization in Eisenhüttenstadt due to economic unprofitability, despite funding commitments.
Steel giant ArcelorMittal stops decarbonization in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt!
A tough decision for the German steel industry: ArcelorMittal Europe has announced the halt to its decarbonization plans for the flat steel mills in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt. The reason? The company considers CO₂-reduced steel production to be economically unsustainable, as MachinenMarkt reports. Although a contract with the federal government provided for funding of 1.3 billion euros and construction to begin in June 2025, ArcelorMittal has now decided to forego these funds.
The company has already fallen short of expectations in the past: despite funding commitments of over 1 billion euros, it has never resorted to government support. CEO Reiner Blaschek justifies this step with the difficult economic situation. High electricity prices and the insufficient availability of green hydrogen make switching to lower-emission production simply not profitable.
A setback for the climate goals
The Bremen Senate reacted to ArcelorMittal's decision with great disappointment. 250 million euros were already available to advance the restructuring of steel production. What remains is a bitter aftertaste: “We still have to stick to our goal of making steel production more sustainable,” said a spokesman for the Senate Administration.
But there is resistance not only in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt. IG Metall criticizes ArcelorMittal's decision as strategically short-sighted and is calling for a crisis summit for the entire steel industry. According to IG Metall, negative effects on the already targeted climate targets and employment in the industry could no longer be ignored, as Ingenieur highlights.
The challenges of the steel industry
Green hydrogen is considered the key technology for climate-friendly steel production. But the reality is different: it is currently rare and expensive, precisely because its production requires a lot of electricity from renewable energy sources. In Germany, the steel and iron sector causes between 6 and 7% of industrial CO₂ emissions, which makes the urgency of change all the more clear, as BDEW explains.
In contrast to ArcelorMittal, companies such as Thyssenkrupp, Salzgitter and Stahl-Holding-Saar are continuing their decarbonization plans. Thyssenkrupp, for example, is investing around 3 billion euros in its restructuring, while Salzgitter is planning to invest over 2 billion euros to build up its own hydrogen capacities. The crucial question remains: How can the industry receive the necessary planning security and financial support to actually implement the change?
In this tense situation, it will be crucial that the steel industry and political decision-makers work together to overcome the challenges and not lose sight of the ambitious climate goals.