MINEX Forum

Tag: green steel

  • European Industry Coalition Pushes for Smarter and Faster Permitting Across the EU

    European Industry Coalition Pushes for Smarter and Faster Permitting Across the EU

    Euro Mines announced that 18 organisations have joined forces to establish an informal Coalition on Permitting, a cross-sector platform aimed at improving and accelerating project approval processes across the European Union.

    The move comes amid growing concern that lengthy and complex permitting procedures have become a structural bottleneck for Europe’s industrial revival, delaying investments across mining, energy and manufacturing.

    According to the coalition, permitting reform should be treated as a strategic enabler of Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and industrial value chains. The group is calling on EU policymakers to streamline and align permitting requirements stemming from EU legislation, particularly for cross-border projects, in order to reduce duplication and legal uncertainty.

    Among the proposed measures are enforceable time limits for permit decisions, digital tracking systems, clearer accountability mechanisms and stronger resourcing of permitting authorities.

    Coalition Co-Chair Gabrielle van Melkebeke said the initiative seeks to ensure Europe can deliver the projects required to meet net-zero targets while remaining an attractive destination for investment. She noted that the coalition combines diverse expertise to propose reforms that are both ambitious and practical.

    Co-Chair Florian Anderhuber stressed that Europe cannot meet its industrial, defence and climate objectives without modern and predictable permitting systems. By pooling cross-sector insights, the coalition aims to provide policymakers with evidence-based recommendations on where reforms are most urgently needed.

    The announcement follows mounting pressure on Europe’s industrial base. While the region initially led the early phase of the steel transition away from coal, momentum has slowed. The  reports that China has taken the lead in green steel production and has surpassed its 2025 green hydrogen capacity target of 200,000 tonnes.

    Financial challenges have also emerged. Swedish green steel developer  is facing a funding shortfall of more than $1 billion to complete its plant under construction. Stegra is also a key investor in , which is experiencing financial strain partly linked to limited government support.

    The coalition represents European and national trade associations, technology providers, project developers and supply chain partners. Its goal is to serve as a unified industry voice in support of modernising Europe’s permitting systems and restoring industrial momentum.

  • Primetals, Rio Tinto, and voestalpine Break Ground on Industrial-Scale Net-Zero Ironmaking Plant in Austria

    Primetals, Rio Tinto, and voestalpine Break Ground on Industrial-Scale Net-Zero Ironmaking Plant in Austria

    Construction has officially begun on an industrial-scale demonstration plant in Linz, Austria, that aims to revolutionize ironmaking with potential net-zero CO₂ emissions. The groundbreaking ceremony, held on September 25, 2025, brought together political leaders and industry representatives, marking a major step forward for green steel technology.

    The plant, dubbed Hy4Smelt, will combine Hydrogen-based Fine-Ore Reduction (HYFOR®) technology with an electric Smelter solution, both developed by Primetals Technologies. Scheduled to start operations by the end of 2027, the facility will produce hot briquetted iron, hot metal, and pig iron with a planned capacity of 3 tons per hour. Unlike conventional blast furnaces, HYFOR eliminates the need for agglomeration of iron ore fines and utilizes green hydrogen as a reducing agent, while the Smelter finalizes reduction using renewable energy.

    Voestalpine CEO Herbert Eibensteiner emphasized the project’s role in reaching net-zero steelmaking by 2050: “Seeing construction underway of the globally unique Hy4Smelt demonstration plant once again confirms our technological and innovation leadership in green steel production.”

    Rio Tinto will supply 70% of the iron ore for the plant and provide technical support, while Mitsubishi Corporation has joined as a strategic co-investor. The initiative also benefits from funding by the Austrian government’s “Transformation of Industry” program, as well as EU-backed initiatives like the Clean Steel Partnership and the Clean Hydrogen Partnership.

    Primetals Technologies has been testing HYFOR at a pilot plant since 2021, running over 50 campaigns with various iron ore sources. CTO Alexander Fleischanderl described the new project as “a major step toward net-zero CO₂ emissions in ironmaking,” stressing the urgent need to transition away from coal-fired blast furnaces.

    If successful, the HYFOR and Smelter technologies could become commercially available from 2028, offering a scalable pathway to decarbonize global steel production while tapping into low-to-medium grade ores that dominate the world’s supply.

  • Stegra Eyes IPO as Green Steel Ambitions Grow Beyond €6.5 Billion Private Funding

    Stegra Eyes IPO as Green Steel Ambitions Grow Beyond €6.5 Billion Private Funding

    Stegra AB, the Swedish startup constructing the world’s largest green steel plant in Boden, northern Sweden, is laying the groundwork for a potential public listing as it anticipates funding needs beyond the private market’s capacity.

    With €6.5 billion already secured — one-third from equity and two-thirds from debt — the four-year-old firm is set to begin producing green steel by the end of 2026, targeting an annual output of 2.5 million tons. A proposed Phase 2 would double production, but according to CEO Henrik Henriksson, further expansion may require tapping public capital markets.

    “We’re preparing for it,” Henriksson said at Stegra’s first capital markets day, while emphasizing that no timeline has been set for an IPO. “Beyond Phase 2, it’s a lot of money — even with strong investors behind us.”

    Stegra is part of a new generation of low-emissions steelmakers attempting to transform one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries, responsible for roughly 7% of global CO₂ emissions. Unlike traditional blast furnaces, Stegra will use hydrogen produced from renewable energy, positioning itself as a leader in sustainable heavy industry.

    Henriksson confirmed that Stegra has raised its EBITDA forecast for 2030 by 10%, now expecting €1.2 billion, thanks to higher green steel price premiums. The expected return on capital employed for Phase 1 is projected to exceed 20%, well above industry norms.

    Key Challenge: Grid Connection for Phase 2

    A significant hurdle for expansion is the lack of a confirmed grid connection for Phase 2. Without a secure electricity supply, an investment decision for the second phase is off the table. Henriksson said he hopes for clarity on this by early 2026.

    Stegra is backed by Vargas Holding AB, a Swedish impact investment group that also launched Northvolt AB, the EV battery startup that collapsed under cash strain. While there are similarities in funding models, Henriksson stressed that Stegra’s business and steel product are fundamentally different, citing strong industrial demand and robust long-term supply contracts.

    “We want to finish Boden, prove the model, and show we can generate money,” Henriksson concluded.

  • Euromines President Stresses Balance Between EU Climate Goals and Industrial Competitiveness

    Euromines President Stresses Balance Between EU Climate Goals and Industrial Competitiveness

    At the Strategic Dialogue on Steel, hosted by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Euromines President Jan Moström (LKAB) underscored the need to balance EU climate ambitions with industrial competitiveness. Speaking at the event, Moström highlighted key priorities for ensuring a sustainable and resilient steel sector in Europe.

    He emphasized that electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking powered by low-carbon electricity is the future of decarbonization. To build resilient value chains, he stressed the necessity of combining scrap and direct reduced (DR) pellets, while also acknowledging the scarcity of high-grade iron ore.

    Moström also called for a robust Omnibus permitting framework to unlock sustainable raw materials and boost renewable energy capacity. Additionally, he urged the EU to implement an Affordable Energy Action Plan, advocating for electricity market reform to curb volatility and attract investment.

    For Europe’s clean industrial future, securing affordable, fossil-free electricity and reliable raw materials is essential to maintaining a competitive and resilient minerals mining industry.

  • Ukrainian Iron Ore Industry Shifts Towards High-Quality Concentrate Production

    Ukrainian Iron Ore Industry Shifts Towards High-Quality Concentrate Production

    Amidst the global push for green steel production, Ukrainian mining and processing plants are urged to enhance the quality of iron ore concentrate, transitioning to higher iron content levels, reports UAprom. This call to action was underscored during the “Iron Ore Deposits of Ukraine: Current Problems and Development Prospects” international conference held at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv on March 21-22, where leading scientists and industry representatives convened.

    Yelena Belan, an expert on iron ore production at Metinvest Group, emphasized the importance of meeting market quality requirements to avoid losing opportunities for product sales and enterprise capacity.

    Ensuring consistent high-quality products with elevated iron content positions Ukrainian enterprises to lead the green modernization of Europe and integrate into the global green metallurgy system.

    Despite the use of low-grade ores with approximately 30% total iron content, Ukrainian iron ore industry relies on extensive processing methods such as crushing, grinding, magnetic separation, flotation, and dewatering to upgrade these ores. The resultant magnetite concentrate with 64-68% iron content undergoes fundamental qualitative changes, making it significantly different from the original ore, noted experts from the Institute of Geology at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

    Concerns regarding the tax treatment of deep processing were also addressed, with experts asserting that magnetite concentrate represents a distinct product compared to the original ore. This sentiment was echoed by scientists from the Semenenko Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Ore Formation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, emphasizing the need to reconsider rent taxation policies.

    Ukraine witnessed a substantial reduction in iron ore exports in 2023, down by 26% compared to 2022, with raw material exports plummeting by 60% compared to pre-war 2021 levels. Revenues from iron ore exports for Ukrainian companies also experienced a significant decline.

    Major iron ore producers in Ukraine include Ingulets GOK, Kryvyi Rih Iron Ore Plant, Poltava Mining, Northern GOK, Central GOK, Southern GOK, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih, and Sukha Balka.

  • EU Commission Approves €1.3 Billion State Aid for ArcelorMittal’s Green Steel Initiative

    EU Commission Approves €1.3 Billion State Aid for ArcelorMittal’s Green Steel Initiative

    The European Commission announced on Friday its approval of €1.3 billion ($1.41 billion) in state aid from Germany to support steel producer ArcelorMittal in its efforts to decarbonize a portion of its production processes.

    Stating that the aid was essential to promote the production of environmentally friendly steel, the commission deemed it necessary and fitting. It emphasized that the anticipated positive impacts, particularly in terms of reducing carbon emissions, outweighed any potential negative effects on competition and trade within the EU

  • Baffinland, German firm explore low-carbon steel production

    Baffinland, German firm explore low-carbon steel production

    Baffinland Iron Mines Corp., the largest private-sector employer in the territory, has joined forces with German steelmaker ROGESA Roheisengesellschaft Saar mbH to explore the development and production of low-carbon “green” steel using iron ore extracted in Nunavut.

    The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding, aims to further investigate the utilization of iron ore sourced from the Mary River Mine, situated on northern Baffin Island, in the steelmaking process, as announced by both companies in a recent news release.

    According to Peter Akman, spokesperson for Baffinland, the ore extracted at the Mary River Mine ranks among the “highest-grade direct shipping iron ore in the world.”

    The partnership aligns with ROGESA’s emissions-reduction initiatives, which necessitate high-quality iron ore, a requirement that Baffinland can fulfill.

    Carbon plays a crucial role in steel production, enhancing its strength and durability. “Green” steel typically refers to steel manufactured with reduced carbon emissions, aiming to mitigate the environmental impact of steel production.

    Steel manufacturing is a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, amounting to eight percent of the total, as reported by the World Economic Forum in 2022.

    According to Akman, the production of low-carbon or green steel is pivotal in the global transition toward reducing the environmental footprint of the steel industry.

    Baffinland’s involvement in low-carbon steel production will primarily focus on its on-site mining operations and shipping processes. Notably, the iron ore extracted at the Mary River Mine undergoes crushing and screening on-site before being directly shipped to markets, eliminating the need for concentration or processing and, consequently, minimizing tailings production.

    Regarding potential job creation at the Mary River Mine resulting from the agreement with ROGESA, Akman stated that as the company gains insights into the process, it may lead to new production developments and, subsequently, employment opportunities.

    This collaboration marks Baffinland’s third initiative to explore the utilization of Nunavut iron ore in low-carbon steel production, following similar memorandums of understanding signed last year with German steel production companies Salzgitter Group and ThyssenKrupp Steel.