ArcelorMittal Poland, in collaboration with Linde Gaz Polska, is set to build a hydrogen production facility at its Kraków division, with an investment exceeding PLN 100 million. The plant will produce hydrogen to supply two galvanizing lines at the plant, which will help reduce the environmental impact and improve the safety of production processes. The hydrogen production is expected to begin by the end of 2026.

This new project is part of ArcelorMittal’s ongoing efforts to transition towards greener practices. Since 2018, the Kraków plant has eliminated coal as a fuel source, and as of July 2023, it ceased coke production. The plant’s operations now rely solely on natural gas, including the hot rolling mill, cold rolling mill, and galvanizing and sheet metal painting lines. To further reduce emissions, the company is also completing the construction of hydrogen furnaces at the site, with an investment of PLN 52 million. These furnaces will eliminate ammonia from the annealing process, a significant environmental improvement. The hydrogen plant, located near the galvanizing lines, will produce hydrogen from natural gas, a step aimed at ensuring a reliable hydrogen supply for the galvanizing process.

Wojciech Koszuta, CEO of ArcelorMittal Poland, emphasized that the company’s focus on improving the quality and range of its products has been accompanied by a commitment to reducing environmental impact. Since 2004, ArcelorMittal Poland has invested nearly PLN 2.5 billion in the Kraków rolling mills and galvanizing plants, continually enhancing product quality while working to minimize environmental harm. The transition to hydrogen and the elimination of ammonia are part of the company’s broader decarbonization strategy, which goes beyond steel production to include other areas of the company’s operations.

Oleksandra Tuzhylina, CEO of Linde Gaz Polska, highlighted the expertise the company brings to the hydrogen sector, having over a century of experience in hydrogen production, distribution, and storage. This partnership will ensure the highest level of operational safety and reliability in the production process.

ArcelorMittal Poland has been phasing out outdated technologies and investing in more sustainable, green technologies in its steel production. In line with these efforts, the company is set to shut down its coke oven battery at the Kraków steel plant in the summer of 2024 due to declining steel demand. This follows a recent period of hot mothballing since November 2023.

Over the past two decades, ArcelorMittal has invested over PLN 10.5 billion (around $2.6 billion) in its Polish assets, with a substantial portion of these funds directed toward environmental initiatives. These efforts have already led to a 90% reduction in dust emissions and a 42% decrease in CO2 emissions compared to 2004. The company aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, with an interim goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 35% by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.