ArcelorMittal strokes in France
After the planned investment of 1.8 billion euros for decarbonizing steel production in Dunkerque was suspended in November 2024, the French management of the world’s second largest steel manufacturer on May 15 explained to invest 1.2 billion euros in an electric oven in Dunkirk.
This does not calm the French unions, because with a firm and final decision, the group is waiting for the European Union to implement its announced measures to protect European steel from the competition from Chinese steel at dumping prices. In the « Action Plan for a competitive and decarbonized steel and metal industry », the guarantee of an affordable and secure energy supply of the sector is fixed, the « shift of CO2 emissions » is to be prevented and commemorative measures for metal scrap should be introduced in order to ensure sufficient availability of scrap as raw material for steel production.
Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal wants to delete 636 positions with a social plan in France, of which only 385 are occupied, as a union source from the AFP news agency announced. The group currently employs around 15,000 people in France. In April it became known that for cost reasons, the group wants to shift up to 1,400 positions in Western Europe in functions that are not directly associated with steel production to India or Poland.
