Published 8th July, 2022 by Matthew Moggridge

LIBERTY Ostrava has signed a contract with Danieli, a leading global manufacturer of plant and machinery, for the delivery of two state-of-the-art hybrid electric arc furnaces at the centre of Ostrava’s GREENSTEEL transformation plan. The CZK8.6 billion (EUR 350 million) investment, which will be the largest in the steelworks for a generation, is being described as a huge step forward in LIBERTY Ostrava’s plan to become carbon neutral by 2030 (CN30).

The new furnaces, the first of their kind in Europe, will have a combined capacity of 3.5Mt/yr and, it is claimed, will reduce overall CO2 emissions of the Ostrava steelworks by more than 80% by 2027. The two 200-tonne furnaces use Danieli’s patented QONE power electronics technology to control arc current and voltage for a more efficient and stable power delivery to the furnaces. This will allow the furnaces to be more flexible in the charge mix from large quantities of hot metal and direct reduced iron (DRI/HBI) and up to 100% scrap in the second phase of the project. With the new furnaces in place, the plant will reduce its reliance on imported coal and iron ore and provide even greater production flexibility, claims Liberty. The new furnaces are expected to be operational in 2025 and will be able to melt 100% scrap in 2027 following the planned installation of a 400kV electricity line into the Ostrava steelworks.

LIBERTY has also launched the tender process for similar hybrid electric arc furnaces for Ostrava’s sister plant LIBERTY Galati, Romania, as it too transforms to GREENSTEEL technologies and the group targets 10Mt of GREENSTEEL capacity in Europe over the next five years.

LIBERTY Ostrava has also signed a Declaration of Co-operation with ČEZ ESCO, part of the ČEZ group which is one of Europe’s largest energy companies. This partnership will identify and develop the renewable energy and hydrogen technologies required for Ostrava’s GREENSTEEL transformation. The group has announced the launch of the GFG Foundation in the Czech Republic – a charity founded by Sanjeev and Nicola Gupta aimed at inspiring, encouraging and helping future generations into a career in industry.

Sanjeev Gupta, executive chairman of LIBERTY Steel Group said: “The contract we have signed today is a historic milestone for the Ostrava steelworks and a massive step forward towards our GREENSTEEL and carbon neutrality plans here in Ostrava and across Europe. This is the largest investment in Ostrava for a generation and the start of a major transformation across Europe as we move away from older polluting production methods to the latest lower carbon production technologies. This will not only make us a cleaner and more sustainable producer but also a more responsive and dynamic player in the market. Our investment shows our long term commitment to the workforce here at Ostrava, the local community and the future generations that will come to work in what will be a modern, clean steel plant. I’d like to thank the team at LIBERTY Ostrava for all the work that has gone into preparing for this huge investment.”

Kamil Čermák, the chairman of the board and the CEO of ČEZ ESCO, commented: "The steel industry in Europe stands at an important crossroads. We appreciate LIBERTY Ostrava's decision to switch to low-emission steel production technology based on electric arc furnaces. We look forward to working with the LIBERTY Ostrava team, with whom we will seek and develop low-carbon and carbon-free technologies, especially in the field of renewable energy and hydrogen. Together we want to secure the future of steel mills and contribute to a substantial improvement of the environment in the Ostrava region."