According to the steelmaker, the investment will reduce ArcelorMittal’s carbon emissions in France by 40% by 2030.

ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer will receive a new electric arc furnace (EAF) to complement a previously announced twin-ladle furnace currently under construction. At Dunkirk, the company will construct a 2.5-million-metric-ton direct reduced iron (DRI) unit and two EAFs. The DRI unit will employ hydrogen in the reduction process for greater emissions reduction.

ArcelorMittal said the new equipment will eventually replace three of its blast furnaces (two at Dunkirk and one in Fos-sur-Mer) by the year 2030.

“As a leader in steelmaking, ArcelorMittal is committed to decarbonizing its plants in Europe to serve our industrial customers,” remarked Yves Koeberlé, chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products. “We are grateful for this support from the French State which will enable the major transformation of our sites in Fos-sur-Mer and Dunkirk which together account for over one-third of ArcelorMittal’s flat steel production in Europe.”

Read the official announcement here.