CZ/SK verze

German Transport Ministry commissions new climate-friendly plant supply system. ArcelorMittal and DB Cargo become strong partners on the road to green steel

German Transport Ministry commissions new climate-friendly plant supply system. ArcelorMittal and DB Cargo become strong partners on the road to green steel
photo: Deutsche Bahn/German Transport Ministry commissions new climate-friendly plant supply system. ArcelorMittal and DB Cargo become strong partners on the road to green steel
31 / 10 / 2022

DB Cargo AG and steel and mining group ArcelorMittal have achieved a major milestone in green logistics on their journey to CO2-free steel production, with the introduction of state-of-the-art, partially automated unloading facilities at the Eisenhüttenstadt steel plant in Brandenburg, Germany.

The new logistics system, which features innovative freight cars, lightweight, removable containers, and large unloading terminals with extraction systems, will help to better protect the environment from particulate matter and emissions, while also ensuring more efficient utilization of freight trains. Over 90% of the raw materials required for steel production can be delivered in this climate-friendly way, boosting efficiency and environmental compatibility at eastern Germany's largest blast furnace site.

Dr. Sigrid Nikutta, DB Board Member for Freight Transport, and Reiner Blaschek, CEO ArcelorMittal Germany, presented the new logistics system at an event attended by Federal Minister of Transport, Dr. Volker Wissing, and State Secretary Hendrik Fischer from the Brandenburg state government.

The use of state-of-the-art technology, such as automated unloading facilities, multifunctional double wagons, and special containers from Innofreight, is contributing to the reduction of emissions in the transportation of goods. These innovative tools have increased the payload per train by up to 20 percent, improving efficiency and allowing for a quicker supply of raw materials. Moreover, these advancements have decreased the number of required freight trains, further lowering the environmental impact of transportation.

ArcelorMittal, as the world's largest steel and mining group, is dedicated to significantly reducing its CO2 emissions, as part of its XCarb initiative. The company's commitment aims to decrease CO2 emissions by over 35% in Europe by 2030 and achieve a completely climate-neutral production worldwide by 2050. Considering the significant role of supply chain management and plant supply in the carbon footprint, the company plans to invest further in its Eisenhüttenstadt site. For example, ArcelorMittal is planning to construct two electric arc furnaces to produce crude steel based on recycled scrap and sponge iron produced using green hydrogen. The latter will be transported by rail from a plant in Bremen to the unloading facilities in Eisenhüttenstadt.

Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Dr. Volker Wissing, stressed the need for environmentally friendly transport and a strong rail network to achieve emissions targets. He emphasized that without these, there can be no climate-neutral industry, and producers of energy-intensive basic materials, such as steel, have a special role in achieving climate targets. State Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy of the State of Brandenburg, Hendrik Fischer, stated that the new unloading station is an important step toward green steel production at the Eisenhüttenstadt site. CEO of ArcelorMittal Germany, Reiner Blaschek, stated that the new unloading facilities accelerate the transformation of steelmaking to climate-neutral production and will enable the company to save over 3.5 million metric tons of CO₂ yearly in Eisenhüttenstadt by 2030. Finally, DB Board Member for Freight Transport and Chairman of the Management Board of DB Cargo, Dr. Sigrid Nikutta, emphasized the importance of green supply chains and reducing CO₂ emissions in production and securing raw material supplies for one of Germany's largest steel sites until 2031.

Source: Deutsche Bahn

Tags