SSAB has begun preparatory work for its new, state-of-the-art steel mill in Lulea, intended to replace the current blast furnace-based production. However, the project faces a 12-month delay, shifting the planned start-up from the end of 2028 to the end of 2029.
The delay stems from Vattenfall Eldistribution’s announcement that grid reinforcements needed to power the new facility will not be completed on schedule. Svenska kraftnat, responsible for upgrading the national transmission grid, is facing technical challenges, particularly with outage planning during the modernization of the Svartbyn station, which is essential for powering the new Hallmyran substation that will connect SSAB’s plant.
To maintain grid reliability, the timeline for SSAB’s connection has been adjusted accordingly. SSAB is in ongoing dialogue with Vattenfall Eldistribution and Svenska kraftnat to establish a sustainable path forward for the project. The Lulea plant is a key part of SSAB’s strategy to transition to fossil-free steel production.