ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer inaugurates its ladle furnace to reduce emissons

ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer has commissioned its new ladle furnace, marking a significant step in the facility's efforts toward reducing emissions and supporting the steel industry’s energy transition.

The installation was officially inaugurated on 26 September by Christophe Mirmand, Prefect of the Provence Alpes Côte d'Azur Region; Isabelle Campagnola-Savon, representing Renaud Muselier, President of the Sud Region; and René Raimondi, Mayor of Fos-sur-Mer.

Originally announced in 2021 during a visit by Bruno Le Maire, former French Minister of Economy, the ladle furnace aims to reduce the site’s CO2 emissions by approximately 10% once fully operational and production is scaled up.

The ladle furnace is designed to reheat steel, increasing the amount of recycled steel in production up to five times the current levels. The facility is expected to reduce the usage of hot metal by 10% as early as 2025. The new installation includes two ladle stands, each holding more than 330 tons of liquid steel, which is heated to the necessary temperature for processing using three electrodes.

This project is part of the site's broader decarbonization efforts, with construction completed in early 2024 and testing beginning in the summer. The total investment in the ladle furnace is €76 million, with €15 million in support from the French government under France Relance, now part of the France 2030 initiative managed by ADEME.

During peak construction, more than 150 workers were involved in the project.

Bruno Ribo, CEO of ArcelorMittal Méditerranée until 1 October 2024, highlighted that the project will lead to a notable reduction in CO2 emissions for steel produced at Fos-sur-Mer, particularly for the southern European market. François Sgro, who took over as CEO on 1 October, emphasized the project’s positive impact on both the climate and the environment, while also celebrating the site’s 50th anniversary.

The Fos-sur-Mer site produces more than 150 grades of steel, with about one-third used in the automotive sector, including for safety components and electric vehicle motors. The remaining two-thirds are supplied to industries such as construction and agriculture.

Source and Photo: ArcelorMittal