SSAB to build new steelworks

Luleå SSAB has been granted an environmental licence to build a new steelworks in Luleå.

This was announced by the Land and Environment Court (Mark- och miljödomstolen) on Thursday.

SSAB has been granted permission to build and operate a new electric steelworks in Luleå, which will replace the old blast furnace and fossil-fuelled production.

"This is a great day for us at SSAB and for the transition to fossil-free steel production in Sweden. Now we can move forward with an investment that will lead to reduced climate impact of national importance. At the same time, we keep the jobs in Luleå, create a more flexible and cost-efficient production and strengthen our and our customers‘ competitiveness with a broader range of unique premium products," says Johnny Sjöström, President and CEO of SSAB.

The current blast furnace and steel production in Luleå accounts for 7 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions in Sweden. It will be replaced by an integrated steel plant with electric arc furnaces, rolling and further processing in a production chain that is largely fossil-free. The new steel plant will be powered by fossil-free electricity and use a mix of fossil-free sponge iron with Hybrit technology and recycled steel scrap as raw material.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com