France: Bruno Le Maire visits Dunkirk, the challenge of decarbonizing industry
In France, this is Bruno Le Maire's first trip to the North since he took over his post at Bercy. On Monday 15 January, the Minister of the Economy will visit the site of the Gravelines nuclear power plant. He then signed a contract with ArcelorMittal; The steel giant plans to invest €1.8 billion in the decarbonisation of its plant in Dunkirk.
A furnace of the steelmaker ArcelorMittal in Dunkirk, March 15, 2018 (illustrative image). AFP - DENIS CHARLET
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Dunkirk and its industrial sites are the symbol of the renewal and energy independence desired by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. If nuclear power has become a priority for the head of state and his executive, the decarbonisation of the industry is just as important.
State aid
As for the ArcelorMittal plant, where the steel group intends to invest €1.8 billion, the State will provide aid, validated by the European Union (EU), of up to €850 million. And this, according to the investments actually made, specifies Bercy; ArcelorMittal has not yet fully validated its work schedule.
Reducing site emissions
This money will be used to build two electric furnaces and an iron reduction unit, the first step in the production of carbon-free steel. These facilities run on electricity or gas, and eventually on hydrogen. This project is expected to reduce the site's emissions by 4.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year. That is nearly 6% of the industrial sector in France.
" READ ALSO:Why the reindustrialization of France is still uncertain
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