LIBERTY Ostrava’s historic GREENSTEEL investment

It marks a huge step forward in the Czech steelworks’ plan to become carbon neutral by 2030 (CN30)

At a special event held at the Ostrava steelworks, LIBERTY 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.

Why is it so significant?

• At CZK 8.6 billion (EUR 350 million), it marks the largest investment in Ostrava’s steelworks for a generation
• The new furnaces are the first of their kind in Europe
• The furnaces will have a combined capacity of 3.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa)
• They will reduce the overall CO₂ emissions of the Ostrava steelworks by more than 80% by 2027
• In 2027, they will be able to melt 100% scrap, following the planned installation of a 400kV electricity line into the Ostrava steelworks

The two 200 tonne furnaces are expected to be operational in 2025.

They use the innovative and patented Danieli 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.

This allows the plant to reduce its reliance on imported coal and iron ore and provide even greater production flexibility.

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.”

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 10 million tonnes of GREENSTEEL capacity in Europe over the next five years.

More positive news at Ostrava

At the same signing ceremony LIBERTY Ostrava signed a Declaration of Cooperation 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 also 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.