NEWS
New developments in the Metals industry
ArcelorMittal breaks ground on pioneering carbon capture installation A
rcelorMittal has begun construction of new premises at its site in Ghent, Belgium, to house a pioneering new installation which will convert carbon-containing gas from its blast furnaces into bioethanol. If successful, the new concept has the potential to revolutionise blast furnace carbon emissions capture and support the decarbonisation of the transport sector. The technology in the gas conversion process was pioneered by Chicago-based company
LanzaTech, with whom ArcelorMittal has entered a long-term partnership. The technology licensed by LanzaTech uses microbes that feed on carbon monoxide to produce bioethanol. The bioethanol will be used as transport fuel or potentially in the production of plastics. This is the first installation of its kind on an industrial scale in Europe and once complete, annual production of bioethanol at Ghent is expected to reach around 80 million litres, which will yield an annual CO2 saving equivalent to putting 100,000 electric cars on the road. The new installation will create up to 500 construction jobs over the next two years and 20 to 30 new permanent direct jobs. Commissioning and first production is expected by mid-2020. Visit: www.arcelormittal.com
Construction begins on HYBRIT fossil-free steel plant
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he HYBRIT initiative, a joint venture company owned by SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall, has started construction on the first pilot plant for creating fossil-free steel in Luleå, Sweden. SSAB, LKAB, and Vattenfall have, alongside the Swedish Energy Agency, invested SEK 1,4 billion in the pilot plant. This means that the HYBRIT initiative has now
Outotec to supply Boliden’s sulphuric acid plant in Sweden
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utotec has agreed with the Swedenbased mining company Boliden on the design and delivery of an absorption section to be built for the sulphuric acid plant at the Rönnskär smelter. The order has been booked in Outotec’s 2018 secondquarter order intake. Typically orders of this
12 Industry Europe
entered its second phase. The goal is fossil-free, ore-based steel production, on an industrial scale. The plant is expected to be ready by 2020 and its completion opens the possibility for fullscale testing and development of the technique to produce steel by using hydrogen instead of coal and coke. This could lead to a historical shift in production techniques, with water as a by-product instead of carbon dioxide emissions. “By testing in pilot scale, we can leave the small-scale laboratory environment and instead mimic the coming industrial process, and prepare for efficient production. We are very happy to be able to enter the next phase and get one step closer to our target of fossil-free steel production, with all its environmental benefits,” says Mårten Görnerup, CEO of HYBRIT. Visit: www.hybritdevelopment.com size and scope are valued at over €10 million. The Boliden Rönnskär plant is one of the world’s most efficient copper smelters. The new absorption section designed by Outotec will be able to process the future gas volume from the upstream smelting process with high energy recovery. Outotec’s deliveries will take place in the second half of 2019.
Mantella announced as Swedish Steel Prize winner 2018
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he winner of the prestigious International Swedish Steel Prize has been announced, and this year the honour goes to Italy-based Mantella Srl for its innovative Stratosphere 3.0 rear-tipping semi-trailer. The Stratosphere 3.0 has a chassis with the same weight as an aluminium frame, but with superior mechanical properties. It has outstanding wear resistance, greater fatigue life and offers weight reduction of around 30% compared to previous trailer chassis on the market. “Mantella has come up with a unique design that represents an entirely new generation in tipper and body solutions. Skilled design work, smart production methods and fully utilising the advantages of high-strength and wear-resistant steel made it possible,” says Eva Petursson, Chair of the Swedish Steel Prize jury and Head of SSAB’s Strategic R&D. The chassis is made entirely of high-strength steel with formed Z-beams instead of the classic welded I profile. Eliminating the welded beams gives vital improvements in fatigue resistance as well as production efficiency. It also provides an increase in load capacity, while maintaining a low weight. Additionally, the body of the Stratosphere 3.0 is made from wear-resistant steel, guaranteeing excellent durability over time. Visit: www.steelprize.com “We are extremely pleased that our longterm partner Boliden awarded us this order. Outotec’s advanced absorption solution will safeguard the future capacity of the sulphuric acid plant and meet all of the current and planned European environmental requirements,” says Kalle Härkki, head of Outotec’s Metals, Energy & Water business unit. Visit: www.outotec.com
