ArcelorMittal closes Fos-sur-Mer steel plant

According to ArcelorMittal, steel production at the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Fos-sur-Mer in southern France will be stopped.

The reason was the decision of the labor inspectorate, which revealed an excessively high level of exposure to toxic products and dust on workers, as well as insufficient protective measures. The temporary administrative closure imposed by the inspectorate concerns the metallurgical division, but will affect the operation of the enterprise as a whole.

Excessive exposure of employees to toxic products and dust and inadequate protective measures are the main reasons for plant closures.

ArcelorMittal did not specify an exact closing date, only saying that the company has developed and implemented an action plan with all parties to reduce the impact on staff.
The company called the decision unreasonable and disproportionate and is working to avoid a plant shutdown while strengthening its commitment to workplace health and safety and ensuring product delivery to customers.

ArcelorMittal is suing to quickly suspend this decision. The company is implementing an action plan to reduce the impact of the situation on workers and is negotiating with the labor inspectorate and trade unions. The suspension has begun and will last for several weeks. If ArcelorMittal's appeal is denied, Purchasing and Sales will take advantage of the preparation period to plan appropriate solutions for customers.

In Fos-sur-Mer, ArcelorMittal operates two blast furnaces (BFs) with a combined capacity of 5 million tons per year and produces both hot and cold rolled coil. The company recently restarted blast furnace #2 after a six-month downtime due to poor market conditions, according to Fastmarkets. Sources suggest that ArcelorMittal will try to keep the steel mill's rolling mills running by using raw materials from other sources, but the company has not commented on the matter.

ArcelorMittal's steelworks in Dunkirk and Fos-sur-Mer account for 25% of industrial greenhouse gas emissions in France, according to the French newspaper LaTtribune. The company, with the support of the state, began work on the phased replacement of blast furnaces and the transition to the use of electricity and hydrogen.

As the MMC Center previously reported, ArcelorMittal Dunkirk planned to restart blast furnace No. 4 - the unit was stopped in March this year due to a fire.