In an official announcement, the German Federal Ministry of
Economics has once again voiced its unwavering support for the construction of
a cutting-edge steel
Thyssenkrupp,
Germany's largest steel manufacturer, has plans to commence operations at the
new hydrogen-capable large-scale ironmaking plant by the end of 2026.
Initially, the plant will rely on natural gas for its operations, gradually
incorporating hydrogen from late 2027 onwards. With a total cost exceeding two
billion euros, the project is a joint effort between the state and federal
governments, who are seeking approximately two billion euros in funding.
However, final approval from the EU Commission is still pending.
Recently,
senior employee representatives from thyssenkrupp penned an open letter to
Minister Habeck, urging him to expedite the approval of the promised funding
amount. The employees fear that the future of thyssenkrupp's steel division,
which employs 27,000 workers, is at stake if the project, along with other
green steel initiatives, fails to materialize.
The German
Ministry of Economics, in Berlin, reaffirmed its commitment to the project and
assured that they are actively engaging with the EU Commission. The ministry
stated, "We are also in continuous exchange with representatives of
thyssenkrupp Steel Europe and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia." Their
goal is to secure the necessary funds of approximately two billion euros.
The Economy
Minister, Robert Habeck, embarked on a visit to Essen and Duisburg to hold
discussions with the management and labor representatives of Thyssenkrupp. This
visit comes after weeks of criticism from workers who believe that Berlin's
support has been inadequate. While appreciating the public show of support,
Thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel Lopez emphasized the importance of swift clarity and
approval from the EU Commission to move forward without delay.