As of: February 6, 2024, 11:42 a.m
By: Marcus Giebel
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Robert Habeck (Alliance 90/The Greens), Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, at a press conference in the Nordenhamer Zinkhütte.
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
The state is supporting the conversion of the Bremer Hütte with billions of euros.
Robert Habeck delivered the positive news himself.
Bremen – It was recently the very rare exception that Robert Habeck triggered storms of enthusiasm with his speeches.
Too many things seem to be wrong in Germany; the politics of the traffic light coalition are viewed particularly critically in many places.
The appearance in front of the employees of the ArcelorMittal steelworks in Bremen on Monday (February 5th) was probably even more of a balm for the battered soul of the Economics Minister and Vice Chancellor.
Major project by the steel group ArcelorMittal: The federal government is supporting projects worth billions
The loud applause did not come as a surprise, as Habeck must have been preparing for it in the hours before his visit.
Because he had a lavish gift in his luggage - even if it initially seemed imaginary.
The Green politician didn't have a suitcase of money with him.
But there is a commitment to support a major project that the company itself describes as central to its future.
Habeck therefore promised almost 1.3 billion euros.
Bremen itself will also contribute to this sum with 250,000 euros.
ArcelorMittal, which employs around 9,000 people in Germany, also wants to invest billions in the conversion so that it can produce green steel in the future.
We are talking about a total investment volume of 2.5 billion euros.
Video: Germany relies on green gas power plants and hydrogen conversion
Billions for ArcelorMittal: Group needs “sufficient amounts of green hydrogen”
First the EU has to give its blessing.
But Habeck now basically gave the starting signal. According to the
Süddeutscher Zeitung (SZ),
he said at the extraordinary works meeting: “Everything has been clarified, we are through.”
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While the workforce burst into cheers, the top management was already looking ahead - because Habeck's statement obviously only applied to politics.
The work is just now beginning for ArcelorMittal.
The company said further steps would be necessary before the final investment decision was made.
Reiner Blaschek also only spoke of a first hurdle.
“By using green hydrogen, we could save more than 6.3 million tons of Co2 annually by 2030 and produce 3.4 million tons of Co2-reduced steel in both plants,” calculated the CEO of “ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products”. pointed out: “The next hurdle will be sufficient quantities of renewable energy and green hydrogen – and at competitive prices.”
Bremer Hütte should produce green steel: “Even in 50 years a heart will be made of steel”
Dr.
Thomas Bünger, CEO of ArcelorMittal Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt, promised: “In the next twelve months we will push forward with detailed engineering planning.” According to SZ
, Volker Stahmann from IG Metall is also hoping for
quick action: “We have to go into this now with a positive outlook for the future.
We cannot wait to invest until all issues are resolved.
Then we’ll be 20 years further.” The SPD politician also received applause for this.
Party friend Andreas Bovenschulte made it clear that nothing stands in the way of Bremen's participation.
“Even in ten, 20 and 50 years, Bremen will have a heart of steel.
And that’s really good news,” emphasized the mayor.
Looking to Eisenhüttenstadt: Like Bremen, ArcelorMittal also wants to produce green steel at this location in the future.
© Soeren Stache/dpa
Bremen and ArcelorMittal waited more than two years for the funding decision.
The EU Commission had previously granted approvals to the steel manufacturers Salzgitter AG, Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe in Duisburg and Stahl-Holding-Saar in Saarland.
In each case, billions of dollars were involved.
Habeck delivers a billion-dollar gift: steel production in Bremen with less Co2 emissions
According to its own information, the company plans to build electric arc furnaces at the locations in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt.
In the future, these should produce with renewable electricity and increased use of recycled scrap.
A direct reduction plant is also to be built in Bremen in which the preliminary product sponge iron will be produced from iron ore, initially using natural gas and, in the long term, using green hydrogen.
This sponge iron will then be used at the two locations for highly emissions-reduced steel production.
The Bremer Hütte is responsible for half of the Co2 emissions in the smallest city-state in the Federal Republic.
The renovation is intended to help Bremen achieve its goal of climate neutrality by 2038.
More than 3.6 million tons of crude steel are produced here every year.
ArcelorMittal is the world's largest steel and mining company and is headquartered in Luxembourg.
According to its own information, it is present in over 60 countries and employs more than 74,000 people at 400 locations in Europe alone.
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