ArcelorMittal Bremen receives permission for large-scale environmental modernization

The company plans to transform the enterprise in Bremen into an integrated electric steel smelting plant in the coming years

ArcelorMittal Bremen, a subsidiary of global steelmaker ArcelorMittal, has received the first and main partial permit for a large-scale environmental modernization from the Bremen Senate for Environment, Climate and Science. This is stated in the company’s press release.

In the coming years, the company plans a comprehensive transformation of its Bremen steel plant, which involves transforming blast furnace facilities into an integrated electric steel plant. This requires obtaining numerous permits. The first and main permit was recently granted by Senator Kathrin Moosdorf.

«The transition to climate-neutral steel production is a huge project consisting of many small steps. With the permit for the construction and operation of the first of two planned electric arc furnaces at the Bremen plant, an important step has been taken to prepare for the transformation. The government of Bremen is an important partner on our journey and we continue to work at full speed to make CO2-free steel production a reality in Bremen,» comments Thomas Bünger, CEO of ArcelorMittal Flachstahl Germany.

The partial permit covers both the construction of the electric arc furnace and its operation. The approval procedure considered, among other things, emission issues (air, light, noise), as well as soil and water protection, health and safety, and workplace safety. Objections from members of the public were also taken into account. No insurmountable obstacles to the construction and operation of the planned EAF were identified according to any of the criteria considered.

«The environmental transformation of Bremen Steel is a major project that we are implementing together with ArcelorMittal. Almost 30 government agencies were involved in the approval process, citizens were involved, and we worked at the political level to ensure that the federal government allocated significant funds to Bremen for the transition to green steel. I am very pleased that we were able to finalize the approval procedure quickly. I thank all the participants who made this possible,» said Senator Kathrin Moosdorf.

Germany has recently approved financing for ArcelorMittal’s green transition. The steel mills in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt will receive large-scale financial assistance to transition to climate-neutral steel production. Government funding for the projects is estimated at €1.3 billion, which covers about half of the planned investment.

As GMK Center reported earlier, ArcelorMittal Bremen has entered into an agreement with wind energy technology provider WPD to build a wind farm with a total rated capacity of 72 MW at the company’s site. The entire volume of electricity generated will be transferred to the plant’s needs for steel production.