Swedish steelmaker SSAB has announced that construction of the transmission line needed for its new electric arc furnace (EAF) at Oxelösund will resume after all appeals against the project are withdrawn, removing a major obstacle to the company's decarbonization plans.
The development follows SSAB's announcement that the start-up of the new EAF could be possible delayed due to permitting issues affecting the transmission line that will supply electricity to the site.
Transmission line project resumes after appeals are withdrawn
The transmission line project, which is being developed by Vattenfall Eldistribution, was suspended in April after appeals were filed on species protection issues. Following the withdrawal of all appeals, Vattenfall Eldistribution has confirmed that construction work can now continue. As a result, SSAB expects the new electric arc furnace to begin production in the second quarter of 2027.
Power connections are a critical component of the Oxelösund transformation project, which will replace traditional blast furnace steelmaking with low-emission electric arc furnace technology. SSAB said the Oxelösund project will allow the company to increase its supply of decarbonized steel to customers while significantly reducing the carbon emissions of its operations. The transformation of the Oxelösund site is expected to reduce Sweden's total carbon footprint, according to the company.
