LanzaTech and ArcelorMittal have reached a milestone with the production of ethanol from ArcelorMittal's Steelanol plant in Gent. The ethanol produced by the plant from blast furnace emissions has reached a volume that allows it to be transported by barge.
LanzaTech and ArcelorMittal announced that ethanol from ArcelorMittal's Steelanol facility in Gent, Belgium, has achieved a production milestone whereby ethanol volumes reached a level which supports shipping by barge. LanzaTech took title to the first barge shipment earlier this month, and the ethanol is enroute to be purified and sold to LanzaTech’s customers in fragrance and home care markets. This achievement progresses LanzaTech and ArcelorMittal’s joint strategy to develop a thriving European supply chain for sustainable ethanol produced in the region.
ArcelorMittal’s Steelanol facility is converting carbon-rich industrial emissions from its blast furnace into fuel-grade ethanol by using leading carbon recycling technology developed by LanzaTech. Ethanol production commenced in 2023, and the facility is a first-of-its-kind for the European steel industry. The produced ethanol can be sold directly into fuel markets, or further purified or converted for use in a wide array of consumer products such as apparel, personal care, and packaging.
“This production milestone represents an important step toward treating industrial emissions as raw materials—rather than waste—to profitably support European supply chains in the creation of everyday products,” said Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, Chair and CEO of LanzaTech.
Climate neutrality by 2025
"We are excited to have reached another significant milestone in our decarbonisation journey: the first shipment of ethanol by barge,” said Manfred Van Vlierberghe, CEO of ArcelorMittal Belgium. This achievement marks the next crucial step after the successful first industrial and commercial production of ethanol, made possible by the dedication of our team and our strong partnership with LanzaTech. With initiatives such as Steelanol, which converts carbon-rich gases into ethanol, and Torero, which produces biocoal from waste wood, we are already making substantial progress in reducing CO2 emissions. Addressing climate challenges however requires a holistic approach, where sustainability initiatives such as energy efficiency, CCUS and electrification play key roles alongside Steelanol. Together, we are committed to a clear roadmap for achieving climate neutrality by 2050."
ArcelorMittal’s Steelanol plant has the capacity to produce 80 million litres annually of advanced ethanol, around half of the total current demand in Belgium. It expects to reduce carbon emissions from the Gent plant by 125,000 tonnes annually, thereby advancing the EU’s 2030 Climate Target Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by the end of the decade. Project partners include Primetals Technologies and E4tech (which has since been acquired by ERM), with support from CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
Source: ArcelorMittal
