ArcelorMittal Dunkerque steel plant

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ArcelorMittal Dunkerque steel plant, also known as ArcelorMittal Dunkirk, ArcelorMittal Atlantique et Lorraine - Dunkerque, is a steel plant in Dunkerque, Haus-de-France, France that operates blast furnace (BF), basic oxygen furnace (BOF), electric arc furnace (EAF), and direct reduced iron (DRI) technology.

Location

The map below shows the exact location of the plant in Dunkerque, Haus-de-France, France:

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  • Location: ArcelorMittal Atlantique et Lorraine, site Dunkerque, rue du Comte Jean, Grande Synthe 2508, 59381 Dunkerque Cedex 1, France
  • Coordinates (WGS 84): 51.041274, 2.292948 (exact)

Background

ArcelorMittal Dunkerque (Dunkirk) has three blast furnaces with a total annual production capacity of 7 million tons. The two largest blast furnaces were temporarily shut down in March and April as demand fell due to a coronavirus pandemic,[1] but one was restarted in August 2020.[2]

Transition

In February 2022, ArcelorMittal announced that it would be transitioning its Dunkerque plant away from the BF-BOF production route as part of a €1.7 billion investment in its French facilities.[3] The company announced plans to build out 4500ttpa of EAF capacity and 2500ttpa in DRI at Dunkerque with the aim of starting up the new equipment by 2027 and phasing out the old by 2030.[4] However, in November 2024 ArcelorMittal seemingly backtracked these plans, announcing a delay of an undisclosed amount of time.[5][6] It is unclear what transition plans are still underway at the plant.

Low-emissions/green steelmaking

This steel plant is associated with a green steel project tracked in the Green Steel Tracker. Details about the project are included below.

Table 1: Green Steel Project Details

All references for the above data are available in the Green Steel Tracker.
Project 1 Project 2
Project name 3D - DMX™ Demonstration in Dunkirk H-DRI Dunkirk
Company ArcelorMittal ArcelorMittal
Company has climate goals? Yes Yes
Location Dunkirk, France Dunkirk, France
Project website Site Not available
Project scale Pilot Full scale
Project status Operating Construction
Year to be online 2021 2027
Technology to be used CCS for BF-BOF NG-DRI to H-DRI
Technology details Demonstration of CCS from industrial activities NG-DR to H-DR + EAF ; complemented with 3D (CCS) project.

Natural gas will gradually be phased out as the new equipment will be fed by renewable or low-carbon hydrogen, biogas and electricity.

Iron production capacity (million tonnes per year) Not applicable 2
Steel production capacity (million tonnes per year) Not applicable Not stated
CO2 capture (million tonnes CO2 per year) 0.005 Not applicable
Hydrogen generation capacity (MW) Not applicable Not applicable
Investment size (m USD) 21.8 1929
Actual start year 2022 –
Partners Axens, Total, Air Products, Brevik Engineering, CMI, DTU, Gassco, RWTH and Uetikon. Air Liquide
Date of announcement 2019-03-06 2021-03-17

Plant Details

Table 2: General Plant Details

Start date Workforce size
1963[7] 3200[8]

Table 3: Ownership and Parent Company Information

Parent company Parent company PermID Parent company GEM ID Owner Owner company PermID Owner company GEM ID
ArcelorMittal Atlantique et Lorraine SAS 4298163524 E100001000487 ArcelorMittal Atlantique et Lorraine SAS[9] 4298163524 E100001000487

Table 4: Process and Products

Steel product category Steel products Steel sector end users ISO 14001 ISO 50001 Responsible steel Main production equipment
semi-finished, finished rolled[9] slab, coil, hot rolled[9] automotive, steel packaging, tools and machinery[10] 2024-09-13[11] no[12] 2022-05[13] BF; DRI; BOF; EAF

Table 5: Plant-level Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

1Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Capacity operating status1 Basic oxygen furnace steelmaking capacity Electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity Nominal crude steel capacity (total)
announced – 4500[14] 4500[14]
operating 2250[15] – 2250[15]
operating pre-retirement 4500[15] – 4500[15]

Table 6: Plant-level Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

1Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Capacity operating status1 Blast furnace capacity Sponge iron/DRI capacity Nominal iron capacity (total)
announced – 2500[16] 2500[16]
operating 3600[17] – 3600[17]
operating pre-retirement 3300[18][19] – 3300[18][19]

Table 7: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

Sinter Coke
9600[20] 1380[20]

Table 8: Actual Plant-level Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BOF production Total (all routes)
2019 6200[21] 6200[21]
2020 4900[22] 4900[22]
2021 5900[23] 5900[23]
2022 5100[24] 5100[24]
2023 3900[25] 3900[25]

Table 9: Actual Plant-level Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BF production Other/unknown iron production
2019 unknown unknown
2020 unknown unknown
2021 unknown unknown
2022 unknown unknown

Unit Details

Table 10: Blast Furnace Details

Unit name Status Start date Furnace manufacturer and model Current capacity (ttpa) Decarbonization technology Most recent relining
BF 2 operating pre-retirement[19][26][27] 1963[7] – 1500[18] unknown –
BF 3 operating pre-retirement[26][28] 1968[7] – 1800[19] unknown 2022-11[29]
BF 4 operating[30][31] 1971[7] Saint-Gobain (2001 update, parts)[32] 3600[17] unknown 2001-10[33]

Table 11: Direct Reduced Iron Furnace Details

Unit name Status Announced date Current capacity (ttpa)
unknown DRI (1) announced[16] 2022 2500[16]

Table 12: Electric Arc Furnace Details

Unit name Status Announced date Current capacity (ttpa)
unknown EAF (1) announced[16] 2022 2250[14]
unknown EAF (2) announced[16] 2022 2250[14]

Table 13: Electric Arc Furnace Feedstock Details

Unit name Scrap-based % scrap % DRI % HBI % sponge iron (unknown if DRI or HBI) % basic/merchant pig iron % granulated pig iron % pig iron (unknown if basic/merchant or granulated % other iron
unknown EAF (1) yes[34] >0[34] unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown
unknown EAF (2) yes[34] >0[34] unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown

Table 14: Basic Oxygen Furnace Details

Unit name Status Current capacity (ttpa)
unknown BOF (1) operating pre-retirement[35] 2250[15]
unknown BOF (2) operating pre-retirement[35] 2250[15]
unknown BOF (3) operating[9][15][24][36][37] 2250[15]

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel power plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Iron and Steel Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.

References

  1. ↑ ArcelorMittal will restart blast furnace at Dunkirk Steel Plant in August, SMM News, Jul. 16, 2020
  2. ↑ ArcelorMittal restarts BF at Dunkirk plant in France, Fastmarkets MB, Aug. 25, 2020
  3. ↑ Mitic, Julia (February 7, 2022). "ArcelorMittal accelerates its decarbonization with a €1.7 billion investment program in France, supported by the French government". WBCSD.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "ArcelorMittal accelerates its decarbonisation with a €1.7 billion investment programme in France, supported by the French Government | ArcelorMittal". corporate.arcelormittal.com. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  5. ↑ "ArcelorMittal postpones planned green investments in the EU". GMK. 1732536282. Retrieved 2025-01-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ "ArcelorMittal fait le point sur ses projets de décarbonation en Europe". ArcelorMittal en France (in français). 2024-11-26. Retrieved 2025-01-28.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20230107041943/https://www.viktormacha.com/galerie/arcelormittal-dunkerque-dunkerque-416/. Archived from the original on 2023-01-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ https://evrimagaci.org/tpg/arcelormittal-dunkerque-faces-employment-crisis-amid-investment-delays-158919. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220111143025/https://flateurope.arcelormittal.com/ourmills/704/dunkerque. Archived from the original on 2022-01-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20240806161016/https://france.arcelormittal.com/activites/societes-et-sites. Archived from the original on 2024-08-06. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ https://ssc.arcelormittal.com/en/about-ssc/certifications. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220117071710/https://industeel.arcelormittal.com/downloads/certifications-quality/. Archived from the original on 2022-01-17. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ "Issued and Ongoing Certifications". Responsible Steel. Archived from the original on 2022-03-19.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20221205015000/https://france.arcelormittal.com/actualites/vers-une-production-d-acier-sans-co2-en-france. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 "Map of EU steel production sites" (PDF). Eurofer. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-18.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20220518161845/https://www.wbcsd.org/Overview/News-Insights/Member-spotlight/ArcelorMittal-accelerates-its-decarbonization-with-a-1.7-billion-investment-program-in-France-supported-by-the-French-government. Archived from the original on 2022-05-18. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20240111084919/https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2434731-fire-hits-arcelormittal-dunkirks-largest-furnace. Archived from the original on 2024-01-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20220713233516/https://eurometal.net/arcelormittal-to-idle-1-5-million-mt-year-blast-furnace-at-dunkirk/. Archived from the original on 2022-07-13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220907183915/https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2367260-arcelormittal-to-reline-dunkirk-blast-furnace-3. Archived from the original on 2022-09-07. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220922003449/https://storagearcelormittalprod.blob.core.windows.net/media/pevb5bum/arcelormittal_fb2014.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-09-22. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Fact Book 2019" (PDF). ArcelorMittal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-11-03.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220129220418/https://corporate-media.arcelormittal.com/media/kl3iewkk/fact-book-2020.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-29. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 (PDF) https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/3z1ozw5h/arcelor-mittal-fact-book-2021.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Fact Book 2022" (PDF). ArcelorMittal. 2023-04-25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-10-29.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 (PDF) https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/zsmpkwx2/arcelormittal-factbook-2023-web_interactive_april-30th.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20230331200941/https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/blogs/metals/031323-back-in-action-european-mills-restart-idled-blast-furnaces-on-higher-flat-steel-prices. Archived from the original on 2023-03-31. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20221126132129/https://www.steelguru.com/steel/arcelormittal-idles-dunkirk-blast-furnace-in-france-report. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220906142940/https://eurometal.net/arcelormittal-dunkirk-to-operate-only-one-blast-furnace/. Archived from the original on 2022-09-06. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20221005164342/https://eurometal.net/arcelormittal-postpones-shutdown-of-bremen-blast-furnace-looks-to-reduce-output-at-site/. Archived from the original on 2022-10-05. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20220928165843/https://gmk.center/en/news/arcelormittal-dunkirk-plans-to-operate-only-one-blast-furnace-out-of-three/. Archived from the original on 2022-09-28. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240926060054/https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/media/hbukanb3/3q23-earnings-release.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-09-26. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20221203032604/https://www.ceramicsrefractories.saint-gobain.com/sites/hps-mac3-cma-pcr/files/assetbank_media/sg-ceramic-cup-aistech-2017-usa-article-215400.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-12-03. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293776771_Dunkirk_blast_furnace_4_relining_in_2001. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20221205022533/https://france.arcelormittal.com/neutralite-carbone/recyclage. Archived from the original on 2022-12-05. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20240111051702/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3925. Archived from the original on 2024-01-11. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ↑ https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/arcelormittal-orders-two-converters-for-dunkirk-plant-1239232.htm?searchKey=france&sc=article. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  37. ↑ (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220121144844/https://factbook2018.arcelormittal.com/~/media/Files/A/Arcelormittal-Factbook-2018/AM_FactBook_2018.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-01-21. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Resources

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