ArcelorMittal Poland, in partnership with Linde Gaz Polska, is embarking on a major project to build a hydrogen production facility at the Krakow branch. The plant, which represents an investment exceeding PLN 100 million, will supply process gas to two galvanizing facilities. Operations involving hydrogen are expected to commence by late 2026.
The move marks another step in ArcelorMittal Poland’s journey towards sustainable operations. Since 2018, the Krakow branch has ceased using coal as fuel, and coke production at the site was discontinued in mid-2023.
“Our facilities – including the hot and cold rolling mills, galvanizing lines, and sheet metal painting lines – now operate exclusively on natural gas,” said Łukasz Skorupa, COO of Flat Products and Quality and director of the Krakow branch. “We are also completing a PLN 52 million project to build hydrogen-powered furnaces, which has enabled us to eliminate ammonia in the annealing plant. This collaboration with Linde will ensure a stable supply of hydrogen for our galvanizing plants, as we increasingly focus on hydrogen,” Skorupa added.
The hydrogen plant, to be located near the galvanizing facility, will produce hydrogen from natural gas. In addition to fueling the galvanizing process, the project will enable the complete removal of ammonia from operations, enhancing environmental performance and improving plant safety.
Wojciech Koszuta, CEO of ArcelorMittal Poland, highlighted the company’s long-standing commitment to modernization and sustainability. “Since 2004, we have invested nearly PLN 2.5 billion in Krakow’s rolling mills and galvanizing plants. This investment supports the continuous improvement of our product quality, broadens our offerings, and aligns with our efforts to reduce environmental impact,” Koszuta said. He emphasized that decarbonization efforts extend beyond steel production to processing activities as well.
Linde Gaz Polska, a global leader in hydrogen technologies, expressed confidence in the project’s success. “With over a century of expertise in hydrogen production, distribution, and storage, we are providing ArcelorMittal with state-of-the-art solutions that ensure high operational safety and process reliability,” said Oleksandra Tuzhylina, CEO of Linde Gaz Polska.
Source and Photo: ArcelorMittal Poland
