Strategic projects - not only modernizations, but also research and development initiatives - are being carried out at ArcelorMittal Poland’s plants across all three provinces, in which the company is present – Silesia, Malopolska and Opole. The complex overhaul of blast furnace no. 2, project of an innovative type of rail in Dąbrowa Górnicza, new installations at the power plant in Zdzieszowice and the construction of hydrogen furnaces in the cold rolling mill in Kraków are just some of the significant tasks that ArcelorMittal Poland is implementing this year. Their cost amounts to almost PLN 1.5 bn, and they will enable the company to further enhance the quality of its products as well as increase the energy and installation efficiency.
In Dąbrowa Górnicza this year the company has invested over PLN 720 million in a complex renovation of blast furnace no. 2, which will allow the installation to operate for the next 15 years. Subject to modernization are also: the lime plant (over PLN 40 million), where the so-called Maerz furnaces are being replaced, and a continuous steel casting line at the steel plant (over PLN 180 million). In addition, the company is also implementing an R&D project regarding a new type of “head hardened” rail, which will expand the range of rails offered to customers in Poland and abroad. The initiative, carried out with the support of the National Center for Research and Development (NCBR), costs over PLN 210 million.
Also, the pickling plant in the cold rolling mill of the Krakow unit has been modernized; work is currently underway in the annealing shop, where the company will build new hydrogen furnaces, which will replace the previous installations. The value of investments in Krakow exceeds PLN 135 million.
ArcelorMittal Poland’s coke plant in Zdzieszowice could also count on cash injection for investments at the power plant and the construction of a flue gas denitrification installation. These important environmental projects cost over PLN 165 million.
– Aware of the challenges posed by the constantly changing market and unexpected economic fluctuations caused by completely unexpected events, such as the pandemic or the outbreak of war in Ukraine, we constantly invest in those areas of our activity that allow us to confidently compete on the steel market and keep our plants in good condition - emphasizes Wojciech Koszuta, CEO of ArcelorMittal Poland.
- These huge financial outlays are not only the result of the need to replace some installations with new ones or to meet the stringent requirements of EU directives. We are implementing them primarily because of a strong desire to raise the level of quality, and product innovation in the production process of our steelmaking operations in Poland, despite the challenging times faced by the steel producers throughout Europe - Sanjay Samaddar, chairman of ArcelorMittal Poland points out. – Steel industry is a key driver of the Polish economy. We want to further develop it here, by the Vistula River, with an ambition to become pioneers in the challenging and expensive but necessary decarbonization process - he sums up.
Since the beginning of its operations in Poland (2004), ArcelorMittal Poland has invested PLN 10.5 bn in its plants located in six cities in the country.
