ArcelorMittal Poland may receive PLN 1 billion for modernization

The Polish government is considering support for the Dombrowa Górnicza plant to preserve steel production

ArcelorMittal Poland’s steel plant in Dąbrowa Górnicza may receive up to PLN 1 billion in state support to modernize its production. This was announced by Włodzimierz Czarzasty, Vice Speaker of the Polish Sejm, during a press conference on June 9, WNP reports.

The plant, formerly known as Huta Katowice, is one of six facilities of global steelmaker ArcelorMittal in Poland. In particular, it produces rails up to 120 meters long. The country’s authorities are considering modernizing one of the blast furnaces to maintain steel production at the plant.

“Despite the fact that it is a private company, we want to do everything we can to modernize one of the furnaces and keep steel production in Dąbrowa Górnicza,” said Charzastý.

According to him, negotiations with the Ministry of Finance on state funding for the project are ongoing.

The mayor of the city, Marcin Bazyliak, emphasized the importance of the plant for the local economy, as it provides hundreds of jobs not only directly but also in related industries.

The Polish government has recently been increasingly active in supporting the national industry. Earlier, Prime Minister Donald Tusk promised public investment for companies such as Rafako and Huta Częstochowa. According to him, the government will no longer allow Polish plants to lose due to unfair international competition.

As GMK Center reported earlier, ArcelorMittal Poland is putting into operation new hydrogen furnaces in the annealing shop at its Krakow plant. Investments in the project amounted to PLN 52 million ($12.5 million). Thanks to the project, the company eliminated ammonia from the annealing process and reduced its duration, which reduced natural gas and electricity consumption and cut carbon emissions by 50%.