CHALLENGES TO THE STEEL INDUSTRY IN THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS TOWARDS LOW-CARBON ECONOMY AT THE EXAMPLE OF VOESTALPINE

摘要

Climate issues are inseparably linked with energy and industrial topics. For (European) steel industry and in particular for voestalpine, this refers on the one hand to our customers and markets (two thirds of Group revenue are generated with the segments energy and mobility), and on the other hand-equally important-to our production processes and products, which are crucially affected by the intended long-term transformation process.As a matter of fact, steel industry is not part of the problem, but due to its huge economic importance and its sustainable products essential for the solution. For example, steel applications for "energy transition" saves six times the energy and thus CO2 as consumed in their production. Steel is key part of value chains that are fundamental for a low-carbon future.However, there are key preconditions for transformation: It has to be feasible and realistic, not only from the technological point of view, but also economically. For example, the required (additional renewable) energy has to be available at competitive prices and in sufficient quantities. Otherwise, transformation will simply not happen or-even worse-at the price of de-industrialization of energy-intensive sectors in Europe.