ArcelorMittal starts construction of the Gijón Electric Steelworks

rcelorMittal has started the construction of an Electric Steel Mill for long products at its Gijón factory, the first casting of which is expected to be obtained in the first quarter of 2026. What will be the first major investment of the Company's Decarbonisation Programme in Europe will exceed 200 million euros and represents the first step towards steel production with a low carbon footprint in Asturias.

The reduction in CO2 emissions is achieved by moving from a process in which the main raw material was pig iron from the Blast Furnace, generated by using fossil fuels, to one that mainly uses scrap and pre-reduced iron in which electricity generated from renewable sources will be used, depending on availability. Initially, production through the new Electric Steelworks will be based on the use of fossil fuels to one that mainly uses scrap and pre-reduced iron, in which electricity generated from renewable sources will be used, depending on availability. Initially, production through the new Electric Steelworks will enable a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 35%, with a reduction of 1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year being achieved once the transition phase is completed.

This project places the Long Products division in Asturias at the forefront of decarbonisation in Europe, as it is the first major investment undertaken as part of ArcelorMittal's Decarbonisation Programme on the continent. The installation of this state-of-the-art technology will enable the production of high added-value wire rod and rod with a process that incorporates the highest safety standards.

The formal start-up ceremony was held at the ArcelorMittal Asturias factory located in the municipality of Gijón, with the attendance of the President of the Government of the Principality of Asturias, Adrián Barbón; the special commissioner in the Ministry of Industry for the Industrial Decarbonisation PERTE, Luis Ángel Colunga, and the Mayoress of Gijón, Carmen Moriyón, among other authorities.

Sanjay Samaddar, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe - Long Products, said during the celebration event: "This investment will allow us to install in Gijón the latest technology available for electric steel mills and will contribute to meet the growing demand for rail and wire rod with a low carbon footprint from our customers in the automotive, construction and railway infrastructure sectors, among others; in particular, sectors with strict carbon footprint criteria for public administration contracts".

For his part, Philippe Meyran, CEO of the Asturias Cluster, comprising the plants in Asturias, Etxebarri, Lesaka and Sagunto, thanked all the parties involved in the project for their support: "We have reached this milestone thanks to the support of the public administrations, our customers, our partners, the entire project team... We are moving towards our goal of having a more sustainable industry within the natural paradise that is Asturias".

Source and Photo: ArcelorMittal Spain