Where there is smoke, there is potential

Lately I’ve been thinking about the ‘Green Man’. You might have seen his head outside pubs, in churches, carved into ruins. He’s been around for centuries, the further afield and back you go – in 2nd century Iraqi architecture, in 4th century French chapels, in 12th century Welsh doorways – the Green Man is there. A symbol of nature reborn, of ‘green’ coming to bloom – his foliate head offers two interpretations; nature as manicured and tamed by man, or vegetation that spreads and suffocates, taking us prisoner through its radical, seasonal transformations.

We’ve long been fascinated, and perhaps even troubled by our relationship with the environment. Eco-poets struggle with the word ‘eco’; how do we write poetry that establishes nature without its blatant anthropomorphism? How do we reconcile ourselves in a world that often feels punished by our presence?

Catherine Hill Editorial assistant catherinehill@quartzltd.com

In recent news, a UN agency announced that in the next five years, temperatures are likely to rise by more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. How can the steel industry, historically, and currently one of the most significant polluters, possibly enable decarbonization in this context? However, where there is smoke, there is potential – if steelmakers truly persist in their promises to cut emissions, the impacts will be immense.

Companies, like moon tech-provider Helios, are increasingly turning to often left-field, always hyper-advanced innovations to reach the lofty targets set by their governments. Blastr Green Steel is harnessing ‘Nordic advantages’ to build its first sustainable plant, the FerroSilva project is researching biogenic material as a reducing agent in DRI production. These technologies are attempting to grapple with centuries of history and tradition that albeit offering a remarkable narrative on human capacity to build and develop, have been hugely destructive to the world which they were designed to improve.

Whatever language is used –‘green’, ‘sustainable’,‘decarbonized’ – actions must seek to interrupt and impose. Long has the Green Man been held captive by our industry. Now, we face a point of divergence – to either be suffocated from the consequences, or attempt a complex, costly, yet crucial reconciliation.

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Baoshan Iron and Steel (Baosteel) has announced plans to build its first overseas ‘green steel’ plant in a joint venture with two state-backed companies in Saudi Arabia, as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The company will invest $437.5 million for a 50% stake in the proposed joint venture, Baosteel said in a filing to the Shanghai stock exchange. Oil and gas company Saudi Aramco and Saudi sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF) will together invest the same amount and split the remaining 50% stake.

Source: South China Morning Post, 4 May 2023.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) and Teck Resources Limited (Teck) have signed a long-term rail agreement for the transportation of steelmaking coal from Teck’s four operations in southeastern British Columbia. The agreement builds on existing services in place and will run until the end of 2026. CPKC and Teck will collaborate on the development of a unique pilot programme that integrates the use of CPKC’s hydrogen locomotives into Teck’s steelmaking coal supply chain, with the aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with testing commencing in early 2024.

Source: Global Railway Review, 5 May 2023.

Energy service provider EWE and steelmaker Salzgitter AG have announced their collaboration on hydrogen supply and usage. EWE will produce and supply green hydrogen, which Salzgitter AG will use for near CO2free steel production.

‘‘In terms of climate protection, green hydrogen is particularly suitable for industrial applications such as steel production, which – conventionally operated –produces considerable CO2 every year. With our welldeveloped infrastructure, we offer the basis for reliably supplying a large-scale consumer like Salzgitter AG with green hydrogen on a large scale,'’ said EWE CEO Stefan Dohler.

Source: Market Screener, 5 May 2023.

Rishton Welding and Engineering Company Limited, a UK-based steel fabrication company, has drawn up a major redevelopment scheme to bring its factory ‘from the 1980s into the 21st century’. The business has asked the local council for planning permission for the demolition of its existing offices, extensions to the existing fabrication building and new windows to allow for the relocation of its offices.

Source: Lancs Live, 6 May 2023.

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has signed a threeyear wage agreement with ArcelorMittal South Africa, following negotiations. The agreement consists of a 6.5% increase in year one and two. In year three, the raise will be in line with inflation but capped at 6.5%. ArcelorMittal

South Africa is the largest steel producer in sub-Saharan

Africa and the world’s second largest steel producer after China’s Baowu Group. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said: “We welcome the signing of this agreement particularly because we were on the verge of a strike.”

Source: Mail & Guardian, 8 May 2023.

Steel profile manufacturer

DS Stålprofil and steelmaker SSAB have announced a partnership for deliveries of fossil-free steel gradually starting in 2026. Denmarkbased DS Stålprofil plans to use the fossil-free steel in its roof cladding and facade products. Jan Meier, sales director for SSAB Europe, said: ‘‘The partnership will further strengthen DS Stålprofil’s position as a provider of sustainable, long service life, low-maintenance building solutions and brings SSAB closer to its aim to help create a fossil-free value chain.’’.

Source: Hydrogen Central, 9 May 2023.

Brazilian renewables group Casa dos Ventos has received antitrust approval for its 4.2 billion reais ($858 million) joint venture with the local subsidiary of Luxembourg headquartered ArcelorMittal to develop a wind energy project in the north-eastern state of Bahia. ArcelorMittal Brazil will hold a 55% stake in the project and Casa dos Ventos the remainder, with the venture due to generate 554MW of wind power.

Source: Latin Lawyer, 9 May 2023.

Liberty Galati, the largest steel producer in Romania, has completed the installation of a new automated pipe coating line following an investment of over €8.1 million. The new line will allow the company to become the only regional provider of 100% in-house coated pipes from its own plates and ‘highlights its commitment to providing end-to-end solutions for its customers across Romania, Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Americas’, the company has stated.

Source: Romania Insider, 10 May 2023.

UK business secretary Kemi Badenoch has met with senior executives from British Steel, and its owner Jingye, as the manufacturing giant and government continue negotiations over an aid package to allow the company to decarbonize its production. The visit came after 250 jobs were absorbed across British Steel’s Scunthorpe plant, with high energy prices and a volatile market continuing to plague the business. A British Steel spokesman said: “We discussed the significant challenges Britain’s steelmakers like ourselves face, and our pressing need for support from the UK Government on our journey to net zero.

Source: Business Live, 10 May 2023.

Renewable energy company

Iberdrola Deutschland has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) that will power hydrogen production from its Baltic Eagle offshore wind farm, under construction in the German North Sea, which will then supply electricity to the Salzgitter low-CO2 steelmaking transformation programme. The 476MW Baltic Eagle project is due to go into operation at the end of 2024. Felipe Montero, Iberdrola Deutschland’s CEO, said initiatives of this kind were contributing to the transformation of Germany’s industry while also supporting the ramping up of green hydrogen in the market.

Source: Windpower Monthly, 11 May 2023.

In an attempt to secure long-term supply of liquified natural gas for its ferroalloys plant located in Odisha’s Jajpur, Tata Steel Mining Ltd (TSML) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL). As per the MOU, BPCL will supply the agreed quantity of natural gas through its pipeline to the ferroalloys plant at Jajpur, said TSML, an 100% subsidiary of Tata Steel. Source: DevDiscourse, 12 May 2023.

Tata Steel security department official B Dhananjay was injured after being shot at by three bike-borne criminals in Jamshedpur, India. Dhananjay was returning home from a friend’s house at about 11pm when he was shot at and injured. The victim sustained a bullet injury on his left wrist and was admitted to the Tata Main Hospital where he underwent treatment. From a preliminary investigation undertaken by the local police, it seems that Dhananjay was shot at following a brawl between the victim and the criminals regarding his ‘riding style’.

Source: Lagatar News, 12 May 202.3

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has announced that it is investigating Newport-based Prism Independent Financial Advisers. According to the FSCS, the firm is reportedly associated with claims regarding pension transfer advice given to members of the British Steel Pension Scheme and has not been regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority since 2020. A spokesperson for the FSCS said that the firm has been in liquidation for a period of time.

Source: UK Advisor, 17 May 2023.

BVS Cranes has delivered a new ingot crane to a leading steel manufacturer in western Turkey. Designed for an operating temperature of up to 65°C, the crane has two trolleys with a capacity of 75 tons and a lifting height of 11m, while the three beams span 20m – a design that BVS said is a compact structure, which brings ‘advantages in the hook approach distances of the trolleys and the movements they make together’. BVS added that the crane features ‘a special automation system’, as well as an automatic lubrication system and operator’s cab.

Source: Hoist, 18 May 2023.

US Steel has announced the closing of $240 million unsecured Arkansas Development Finance Authority environmental improvement revenue bonds, which carry a green bond designation. The company will use the proceeds from the bonds to partially fund work related to its new technologically advanced flat rolled steelmaking facility, Big River 2, currently under construction near Osceola, Arkansas. The facility will recycle, refine, and process scrap steel into finished steel products.

Source: Business Wire, 18 May 2023.

Metal engineering company Vesuvius has disclosed that a cyber incident it experienced earlier this year will incur a cost of $4.6 million. The exact nature of the incident remains unknown, as the company has not confirmed further details. However, in a statement to the Regulatory News Service, Vesuvius expressed that despite the episode, it has managed to surpass trading expectations. Vesuvius, which brought in over £1.6 billion in revenue for the 2021 calendar year, was the second British industrial ceramics manufacturer to announce a cyber incident in 2023.

Source: Steel Guru, 19 May 2023.

Global heavy machinery manufacturer SANY Heavy Industry has initiated a strategic partnership with steelmaker Guangxi Shenglong Metallurgical (Shenglong Metallurgical) to ‘drive a green transformation in the steel industry’, following the completion of a $12 million procurement deal which saw SANY deliver 35 EV550 electric tractors, 50 electric dump trucks, and a battery swapping station to Shenglong Metallurgical.

Source: Cision, 19 May 2023.

Swiss Steel says a CO2 emissions audit of its global operations will further enhance its sustainability rating, citing its use of scrap metal feedstock as a core part of its sustainability commitment. The audit, which reviewed operations in 2021, was conducted by Germany-based DNV Business Assurance Germany GmbH and examined Swiss Steel melt shops and facilities in several nations. “Sustainable steelmaking is in the DNA of Swiss Steel Group,’’ Swiss Steel Group CEO Frank Koch said. “The audit statement will further enhance our sustainability rating, transparency and credibility as a leader in green steel.’’

Source: Recycling Today, 21 May 2023.

A museum in Sheffield, England is appealing to the public for help after thieves successfully broke in and stole 12 items relating to metalworking from the collection, according to Yorkshire Live. The offenders entered Kelham Island Museum, a history museum dedicated to Sheffield’s past as an industrial hub for metalwork and steelmaking, in the early hours of 14 May. “The historical significance of these items goes far beyond any financial value they hold,” said Kim Streets, chief executive of Sheffield Museums Trust. “They span one of the first objects hallmarked by Sheffield Assay Office to knives made by one of our last [local practitioners], the much-missed Stan Shaw, and are irreplaceable touchstones of Sheffield’s rich heritage.”

Source: Artnet, 19 May 2023.

The New Zealand government plans to spend up to $140 million aiding steelmaker NZ Steel, based in Glenbrook just outside Auckland, in its transition to lower carbon emissions. The company is owned by multinational company Bluescope, which alone makes up about 2% of the country’s entire greenhouse gas emissions. The investment aims to help the private company transition away from its current high use of coal. Source: NZ Herald, 21 May 2023.

A construction worker miraculously survived after falling and being impaled by a seven-foot-long steel bar that ran through his chest and exited before then entering his head. Shocking footage captured at the scene of the accident in Chongqing, southwestern China showed the injured man lying on a wooden plank placed atop two plastic stools keeping him immobilised. The cause of the accident remains under further investigation.

Source: The Mirror, 22 May 2023.

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