Hydnum Steel, Spain’s first green steel plant and one of the first in Europe, has expressed its support for the European Commission’s (EC) decision to develop an action plan for the steel industry, an initiative, it believes, that will promote steel decarbonisation and strengthen the European steel industry’s competitiveness.
The company’s Puertollano plant in Spain will manufacture high-quality rolled steel, reaching a production capacity of 2.6Mt/yr. It is claimed that the facility will position Spain as a benchmark in sustainable steel production in southern Europe, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening the continent’s strategic autonomy.
Hydnum was encouraged by comments made by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at a meeting held in Brussels on Tuesday, 4 March, and is confident that the European action plan for the steel industry will consolidate green steel as a cornerstone for decarbonisation and boost emission-free steel production in Europe.
According to Hydnum Steel, the high-level meeting served to initiate a strategic dialogue aimed at drawing up an action plan for the steel industry, to be published on 19 March, its main premise being the production of sustainable, commercially-viable steel.
Hydnum believes it is essential that the action plan translates into specific measures, such as an obligation to establish a percentage of green steel in public tenders within the EU. It also believes that explicit support from EU authorities for current green steel projects is fundamental, as otherwise there would be a risk of losing a major opportunity for the continent’s economy and industry.
“Yesterday’s meeting led by Ursula von der Leyen confirms what we already knew: Europe needs its own competitive and, above all, non-polluting steel. The European industry is at a turning point, and projects like Hydnum Steel’s are key to industrial independence and the decarbonisation of the industry. It is time to continue taking steps to not fall behind”.
Eva Maneiro, CEO of Hydnum Steel
For Hydnum Steel, one of the most important measures would be the implementation of policies that guarantee affordable energy prices and a stable supply of critical raw materials. This, believes the company, would support the development of a more efficient and sustainable industrial ecosystem, ensuring the availability of strategic inputs at competitive prices for decarbonised steel production. “A stable and competitive energy framework is fundamental for the success of industrial projects aligned with decarbonisation,” claims Hydnum Steel, as such a framework ‘reduce Europe’s vulnerability to protectionist policies and strengthen its position in the global market’.
On the other hand, Hydnum Steel believes it necessary to Strengthening the European Union’s trade defence mechanisms to ensure a fair competitive environment aligned with decarbonisation targets, is also crucial, claims Hydnum. The company believes in the implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to promote sustainable production globally.
Lastly, Hydnum believes it is important to strengthen strategic alliances with international partners who share the same environmental and sustainability standards, boosting European leadership in emission-free steel production.