Shock for Bremen: ArcelorMittal stops switching to green steel!

Shock for Bremen: ArcelorMittal stops switching to green steel!

Bremen, Deutschland - What's going on in the steel industry? ArcelorMittal's most recent decision to reject the switch to climate -friendly steel production in his works in Bremen and Eisenhüttenstadt for the time being ensures massive waves. The decision met with sharp criticism from all sides: state and federal politics, IG Metall, the works council and the federal government are outraged and demand clear steps to improve. According to ButUnunbinnen.de , the Bremer Stahlwerk is one of the largest employers in the region with around 3,300 and responsible for around 50 percent of CO2 emissions in Bremen.

The circumstances have not developed as desired. ArcelorMittal attributes the cancellation of the billion -dollar project to switch to "green" hydrogen to a lack of economy and the high costs of hydrogen. US tariffs and the competition with cheap steel from third countries also put a strain on business. The subsidies of around 850 million euros that the federal government and the state of Bremen had promised could now be put in the sand

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a heavy blow for Bremen

The Mayor of Bremen Andreas Bovenschulte speaks of a "difficult blow for the Bremen business location". The IG Metall is similar and emphasized that the company's credibility is noticeably shaken. There is great uncertainty, especially among the employees; About 58 percent fear the failure of the changeover to green steel. Business meetings have been canceled instead and a rally is organized to channel the disappointment.

Particularly explosive: The Bremen steel mill produces 3.5 million tons of flat steel annually and is therefore responsible for around 5 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. These emissions make up a significant part of German industrial emissions that are considered the largest CO2 emitters in the country. According to Federal Environment Agency reports the steel industry in Germany over 19.2 million tons of CO2, which corresponds to 6.6 percent of the entire emissions.

reactions and other effects

The political reactions to the decision of Arcelormittal are diverse. While the mayor pleads for a new strategy, the CDU and FDP see the Bremen government in duty and criticize them sharply. The federal government emphasizes that the country's climate goals cannot be reached without a decarbonized steel mill and demands a quick rethink. The Federal Ministry of Economics also expresses incomprehension and appeals to ArcelorMittal to seek dialogue with the employees.

summarized the steel industry is still on the brink. The project to switch to environmentally friendly technologies is now in the air, while other manufacturers such as Thyssenkrupp Steel continue to plan a direct reduction system in Duisburg. It remains to be seen how things go with ArcelorMittal. The challenges are great - both for the company and for the employees who hope for a change.