ArcelorMittal Ghent inaugurated its factory for the capture and use of CO2 on Thursday 8 December. This 200 million euro installation is the first of its kind in the European steel industry and one of the projects to reduce CO2 emissions in the Ghent factory and in the Scheldt-Delta region.

The Steelanol project is a first for the European steel industry. It concerns a 200 million euro plant for the capture and use of CO2 (CCU – carbon capture and utilization). This plant uses carbon recycling technology and biocatalysts to convert carbon-rich waste gases from the steelmaking process and waste biomass into ethanol. The ethanol can then be used as a building block for the production of chemical products including fuel for transport, paint, plastics, clothing and even cosmetic perfume. The advanced ethanol will be jointly marketed by ArcelorMittal and LanzaTech under the brand name Carbalyst®.

Once production reaches full capacity, the Steelanol plant will produce 80 million liters of advanced ethanol. That is almost half of the total current demand for advanced ethanol for fuel blending in Belgium. Annual carbon emissions from the Ghent plant will decrease by 125,000 tons.

The inauguration of the Steelanol factory in Ghent took place in the presence of Executive Chairman of ArcelorMittal Lakshmi Mittal, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, Flemish Prime Minister Jan Jambon, members of the Belgian and Flemish governments, Vice President of the European Investment Bank Kris Peeters, Geert Van Poelvoorde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe and Manfred van Vlierberghe, CEO ArcelorMittal Gent.

Lakshmi Mittal, Executive Chairman of ArcelorMittal: "ArcelorMittal Gent is widely regarded as one of the best steel mills in Europe, with talented, dedicated and forward-thinking people. We want to perpetuate that reputation in the future and I believe that the work carried out here will lays the foundation for what the steel mill of the future will look like. This is a steel mill that uses the latest innovative technologies; that uses sources of circular carbon; that collects and reuses as many waste products as possible and recycles them into something of value; and that prepares for a future where green hydrogen replaces the use of fossil carbon and is a strong example of what is possible with energy, effort and, of course, brilliant scientific minds.It also shows what can be achieved through cooperation, so I would like to thank the Belgian and Flemish governments and the European Investment Bank for supporting our efforts to switch to carbon neutral steel production.”

Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, said at the event: “I am delighted that ArcelorMittal is taking bold and innovative steps to decarbonise steel production at the new facility in Ghent. This is an important step in the fight against climate change, while securing our future competitiveness and Belgian employment. By investing in clean energy technologies, ArcelorMittal not only helps reduce carbon emissions, but also sets the standard for the industry. The only way forward is cleaner production leading to better products."

Jan Jambon, Prime Minister of the Government of Flanders and Flemish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Culture, Digitization and Facilities Management: "Preserving and strengthening heavy industry in Europe is of crucial importance for economic growth and strategic autonomy. The high ambitions of ArcelorMittal for sustainability and circularity fit within the climate objectives of the Flemish government: a carbon-neutral and circular society by 2050, while maintaining industrial and economic activities in our region."

About ArcelorMittal 

ArcelorMittal is the world's largest steel company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steel production facilities in 16 countries. In 2021, ArcelorMittal had sales of $76.6 billion and crude steel production of 69.1 million tons, while iron ore production was 50.9 million tons. The Steelanol project and other projects in Ghent are an important part of ArcelorMittal's 2030 climate action plan, in which the company aims to reduce steel carbon intensity by 25% globally and by 35% in its European operations. More information about the company's climate efforts can be found at https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/climate-action