ArcelorMittal Poland, the Polish arm of the global steel giant ArcelorMittal, has disclosed plans to invest PLN 165 million ($40.9 million) in the modernization of its coke plant located in Zdzieszowice, as outlined in the company’s official statement. According to the press release, the ongoing modernization efforts at ArcelorMittal Poland’s Zdzieszowice coke plant have already reached the halfway mark. Notable upgrades include the construction of a 90-meter chimney, installation of new gas pipelines, and the initiation of a nitrogen oxide reduction unit for each of the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) boilers utilizing treated coke oven gas. The subsequent phase involves the modernization of three coke oven batteries and the decommissioning of an outdated chimney. All activities are slated for completion by 2026. Wojciech Koszuta, CEO of ArcelorMittal Poland, underscores the company’s commitment to reducing its environmental footprint amid the steel industry’s decarbonization challenges. While aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050, Koszuta emphasizes the interim importance of coke for blast furnaces, necessitating emission reduction measures at the Zdzieszowice plant. In a strategic move, ArcelorMittal Poland placed one of its coke oven batteries at the Kraków facility into hot mothballing by the end of 2023. This decision, driven by factors such as diminished coke demand and the pricing dynamics between coking coal and coke, aligns with the company’s optimization objectives. Previously, in 2023, ArcelorMittal Poland allocated PLN 1.5 billion ($363 million) towards modernization and expansion initiatives across three plants, aimed at enhancing product quality, energy efficiency, and overall operational efficacy. Notably, substantial investment was directed towards upgrading the blast furnace in Dąbrowa Górnicza.
