voestalpine commissions Primetals Technologies to supply the EAF for the site in Linz

2024-01-12

Jan. 12, 2024 - Construction work for Austria’s largest climate protection program is already in full swing. By commissioning Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH to supply the electric arc furnace (EAF)—the technological heart of the transformation to steel production powered by green electricity—voestalpine has taken an important next step in realizing this major project.

Primetals Technologies Austria GmbH, based in Linz, will be responsible for installing the EAF’s entire process equipment, including automation, power supply, capacitor bank, conveyor technology, heat recovery, dedusting, and monitoring their assembly and commissioning.

"Greentec steel launches the next generation of steel production. Awarding the contract and ordering the EAF for our site in Linz marks another important milestone." said Herbert Eibensteiner, CEO of voestalpine AG.

"Primetals Technologies Austria was the clear winner in terms of their commercial and technical offering. Together, we will now start the technical implementation of this demanding project." said Hubert Zajicek, Member of the Management Board of voestalpine AG, and Head of the Steel Division, based in Linz.

Greentec steel is an ambitious and feasible phased plan which allows voestalpine to make a valuable contribution to achieving the climate goals. In a first step, one blast furnace at each of the Linz and Donawitz sites is scheduled to be replaced by an EAF powered by green electricity. Converting to this technology enables the Group to reduce its emissions by around 30% from 2027, representing annual savings of almost 4 million tons of CO2. As a result, once the two EAF begin operating in 2027, Austria’s national CO2 emissions can be reduced by around 5 percent. This is unparalleled, and makes greentec steel the country’s largest climate protection project.