ArcelorMittal to build €1.3bn electric arc furnace in Dunkirk
- Start‑up of the 2‑million‑tonne EAF is scheduled for 2029.
- Expected emissions intensity: 0.6 tonne CO2 per tonne of steel — about three times less than a blast furnace — based on scrap, HBI/DRI and hot metal mix.
- 50% of the €1.3 billion investment will be supported by Energy Efficiency Certificates (CEE).
- ArcelorMittal signed a contract with EDF to secure a long‑term supply of low‑carbon electricity.
Project scope and timing
ArcelorMittal confirms construction of a 2‑million‑tonne electric arc furnace at its Dunkirk steelmaking site, with start‑up scheduled for 2029. The announcement was made during a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by government ministers.
Emissions and funding
The unit is expected to produce steel at about 0.6 tonne CO2 per tonne — roughly one third the emissions of a blast furnace — based on a mix of scrap, HBI/DRI and hot metal. Funding will be supported by Energy Efficiency Certificates (CEE), which will cover 50% of the €1.3 billion cost.
Policy and energy context
ArcelorMittal points to recent European Commission measures — notably the Tariff Rate Quota and reforms to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism — as key to restoring competitive conditions in the EU steel market. The company also highlights a contract with EDF to secure long‑term low‑carbon electricity as a major enabler for the project.
Related investment
Close to Dunkirk, ArcelorMittal is starting up a new electrical steel production unit at its Mardyck plant this quarter, a €500 million investment intended to expand product supply for industrial and automotive electrification.
Source: corporate.arcelormittal.com