LIBERTY Ostrava has received approval from the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic for the implementation of new low-carbon technologies and the start of a path towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The ministry has approved an ambitious investment plan for Ostrava to assess the environmental impact of transforming its steel industry through the use of two hybrid furnaces, the first in Europe. The current hybrid technology, which will replace existing tandem ovens by the end of 2022, will have a significantly lower ecological footprint, cutting carbon emissions by over 50% and particulate matter emissions by 66%.
The modernization of the steel mill will involve the construction of two hybrid furnaces that will replace the existing four tandem furnaces and will have the same annual production capacity of 3.5 million tonnes of steel. The new hybrid technology for steel production will enable businesses to: use large volumes of local steel scrap, reducing its dependence on imported natural resources; significantly reduce CO2 emissions; have more flexibility to respond to changing market situations, allowing you to switch between or mix steel from blast furnace and electric arc furnace, liquid steel from iron ore and coke from blast furnaces, and steel from recycled scrap in hybrid furnaces. LIBERTY Ostrava plans to build and commission new furnaces by the end of 2022.
