ArcelorMittal is building an electric arc furnace in Dunkirk

ArcelorMittal has confirmed the construction of an electric arc furnace (EAF) at its steelworks in Dunkirk. The investment of 1.3 billion euros represents an important step towards decarbonising ArcelorMittal’s steel production in France.

The 2-million-metric-tonne EAF is scheduled to come on stream in 2029. It is expected to produce steel with three times lower CO₂ emissions than a blast furnace (0.6 metric tonnes of CO₂ per metric tonne of steel in the EAF, based on a mix of scrap, HBI/DRI and pig iron). The grant will cover 50 per cent of the €1.3 billion investment. Half of the investment is to be financed through a mechanism that obliges energy companies to invest in energy-saving projects.
ArcelorMittal had already announced in January 2024 that it would significantly decarbonise production in Dunkirk and replace both blast furnaces located there with electric arc furnaces.
At its plant in Mardyck, near Dunkirk, ArcelorMittal is also commissioning a new electric steel production facility this quarter. With an investment of 500 million euros, this new plant represents the group’s largest investment in Europe over the last 10 years, excluding decarbonisation projects. ArcelorMittal is thus expanding its product range in Europe to support the electrification of applications in the industrial and automotive sectors.
Source: ArcelorMittal