20:38 12 December 2024
WNP: In order to survive, Polish steelworks must stop exporting valuable goods
Poland’s steel industry has potential but must focus on increasing domestic scrap metal usage instead of exporting it. Currently, Poland is the EU's fifth-largest scrap exporter, accounting for 2.6% of global scrap exports. Electric arc furnace (EAF) technology, which produces steel from scrap with seven times lower CO2 emissions than basic oxygen furnaces (BOF), could revitalize the sector.
EAFs make up 37% of Poland's steel production capacity, but high energy costs and limited renewable energy pose challenges. Expanding scrap collection and processing could reduce steel imports and improve the trade balance. Decarbonizing the steel industry is essential for economic competitiveness, especially as Poland's steel production dropped 28% from 2019 to 2023.
(wnp.pl)
