Insider Brief:
- ArcelorMittal reconfirms commitment to decarbonizing its Dunkirk steel plant in France and is working closely with the French government.
- The company had delayed its European decarbonization projects due to the ongoing crisis in the steel industry.
- ArcelorMittal said the European Commission’s Steel and Metal Action Plan is a source of optimism, particularly considering the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM).
PRESS RELEASE: ArcelorMittal remains committed to decarbonizing its operations in France. The company is working closely with the French Government, whose leadership has been key in the defense of the steel industry in France and Europe.
It is now well understood that the European steel industry is facing its worst crisis since the financial crisis in 2009. This has led ArcelorMittal to delay its European decarbonization projects.
However, the European Commission’s Steel and Metal Action Plan, announced in March 2025, provides optimism that the European Commission will implement efficient trade defense and carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM) soon.
The revised steel safeguard measures that entered into effect on April 1st, 2025, are a first step in the right direction. The European steel industry now requires effective limitation of imports at 15% of market demand as well as an effective CBAM that notably prevents resource shuffling. That would restore a level playing field on the European steel market.
In this context, ArcelorMittal is confident all the conditions will be in place, soon after the summer, to be able to relaunch its decarbonization plan and, as such, confirms its intention to invest in a first electric arc furnace (EAF) in Dunkirk. This EAF will require an investment of approximately €1.2 billion.
This, together with the recent investments announced (€254 million in Dunkirk and €53 million in Fos) and the new electric steels production unit under construction in Mardyck, which is set to complete by end of this year (€500 million investment), totals €2 billion of investment and demonstrates ArcelorMittal’s intention to maintain a thriving and sustainable steel-making business in France.
