We expect politicians to provide a reliable energy supply

Interview with Uwe Reinecke, General Manager of FERALPI STAHL in Riesa

marketSTEEL: In your opinion, what are the reasons for building a new rolling mill in Riesa/Germany?

The new rolling mill is a strategic investment in the future of steel production and a clear commitment to the Riesa site. With more than 220 million euros, we are creating the basis for the production of green steel. The new, Scope 1 emission-free spooler rolling mill will significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and increase energy efficiency - a decisive step towards the green transformation and decarbonization of the steel industry. At the same time, over 100 new jobs will be created at the Riesa site.

marketSTEEL: Which industries or customers does your company mainly supply?

FERALPI STAHL is a leading manufacturer of structural steels for the construction industry. Our products are used in large structures such as bridges, tunnels, building construction ( houses and halls) and in foundation structures, for example for wind turbines. A central element of our range is the FERGreen product line, which stands for particularly sustainable structural steels. These products are among the “best-in-class” solutions in environmental product declarations (EPDs) and are characterized by a particularly low carbon footprint and high material efficiency. FERALPI STAHL's main markets are Germany, Benelux and Eastern Europe.

marketSTEEL: What specific advantages does the location of Saxony offer you?

Riesa is a historically established steel location with deep-rooted expertise and a strong industrial tradition. We benefit from well-trained specialists and a central location in Europe, which gives us quick access to important markets.

marketSTEEL: The shortage of skilled workers is noticeable throughout Germany - what is the situation like in Riesa?

We are also feeling the shortage of skilled workers, particularly due to the construction of the new rolling mill, which will create over 100 new industrial jobs at the Riesa site. This will increase the number of employees to around 950. In order to meet this demand, we are investing heavily in training, for example with a Technical Graduate Program (TGP). At the same time, we are focusing on an international team: 12% of our workforce comes from 24 different countries. We promote the integration of our employees through language courses and other measures.

marketSTEEL: Modern production facilities require a lot of energy - what expectations do you have of the state of Saxony in this regard?

As an energy-intensive company, we need around 540 gigawatt hours of electricity and over 250 gigawatt hours of gas per year. We want to further reduce our CO₂ emissions, but the availability of affordable green energy remains a major challenge. A limited industrial electricity price, a modern and efficient grid and a transparent economic energy pricing system are absolutely essential to make the transformation to green steel economically viable.
We promote the integration of our employees through language courses and other measures.

marketSTEEL: What specific measures or decisions would you like politicians to take to support your company?

We expect politicians to provide a reliable energy supply at competitive prices - not just in the long term, but immediately. This includes lower grid fees, an industrial electricity price, a continuation of electricity price compensation in its current form and a reliable supply of green hydrogen. This should be green and competitively priced.

Photos: marketSTEEL