Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal prepares to reduce emissions

Against the backdrop of the global climate agenda and the transition to cleaner technologies, the Luxembourg government is supporting initiatives to decarbonise industry. As part of a parliamentary enquiry, MP Franz Fayot requested an update on the progress of ArcelorMittal's decarbonisation programme. The response from Economy Minister Lex Delles shed light on the successes and challenges in this area.

The SteelUP project aims to modernise ArcelorMittal's production facilities to reduce its carbon footprint. As part of the coalition agreement, the government is supporting projects related to the transition to green processes and digitalisation. It is important to note that the transition to a green economy requires a stable and predictable regulatory environment at EU level to incentivise investment.

According to the minister, the project is progressing well, but implementation has encountered some technical difficulties. Due to the complexity of integrating the new processes into the existing production, the start-up dates have been pushed back. The plant is expected to be operational in October 2025, subject to the timely receipt of all necessary permits.

Despite regular contact with the company, the Ministry of Economy currently has no information on possible changes to ArcelorMittal's climate strategy at the global level. This emphasises the difficulty of adapting long-term plans in a rapidly changing regulatory and economic context.

The SteelUP initiative is an important step in the creation of clean steel production in Luxembourg. The successful completion of the project could set an example for other European countries and confirm Luxembourg's leadership in industrial transformation. However, the project faces challenges not only at the technical level, but also in the context of global economic factors that may affect the timing and scope of the introduction of new technologies.