ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer has commissioned its ladle furnace, marking a significant step in the site’s contribution to the steel industry’s energy transition, the company announced in a press release. The project, initially announced in 2021, is expected to reduce CO2 emissions at the site by approximately 10pct once fully operational.
The ladle furnace will enhance the recycling of steel, increasing the amount of recycled material in finished products up to five times the current levels, and will cut the use of hot metal by 10pct as early as 2025. The new facility features two ladle stands, each capable of holding over 330 tons of liquid steel, which is heated by three electrodes to the required manufacturing temperature.
The commissioning of the ladle furnace is a key milestone in the site’s decarbonization journey, part of a major transformation of the steelmaking process. Construction, which began two years ago, was completed in the first quarter of 2024, with testing starting in the summer. The project represents an investment of EUR 76 mln (USD 84 mln), including EUR 15 mln (USD 16.5 mln) in support from the French government under France Relance (now part of France 2030, managed by ADEME).
The Fos-sur-Mer site produces over 150 grades of steel, with one-third used in the automotive sector, including safety components and electrical steels for electric and hybrid vehicle motors. Two-thirds of the production serves industries such as construction, agriculture, and energy.
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