First barge departs ArcelorMittal Ghent with bioethanol from captured CO2
A barge carrying bioethanol from captured CO2 has set off from ArcelorMittal's steel plant in Ghent. This is the first time the Steelanol installation, a European first announced in 2019, has supplied sufficient sustainable fuel to begin distribution via barges.
The inaugural shipment consists of 500 tonnes of bioethanol, transported from two storage tanks at ArcelorMittal's Ghent site through an underground pipeline to larger storage facilities operated by Carbon Green Logistics. From there, the bioethanol was loaded onto a barge for transportation.
Transforming emissions
Completed in 2022 and operational since 2023, the Steelanol facility uses cutting-edge technology developed by Chicago-based LanzaTech. The process employs microbes that convert carbon monoxide into bioethanol, transforming industrial emissions into valuable raw materials.
“This milestone is an important step towards processing industrial emissions as raw materials instead of as waste,” said Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech. The plant has the potential to produce up to 80 million litres of bioethanol annually, significantly advancing industrial decarbonisation efforts.
Towards sustainability
ArcelorMittal, often under scrutiny for its environmental impact, sees Steelanol as a key component in its push towards sustainability.
“With initiatives such as Steelanol, which converts carbon-rich gases into ethanol, and Torero, which produces biocoal from waste wood, we are already making significant progress in reducing CO2 emissions,” said Manfred Van Vlierberghe, CEO of ArcelorMittal Belgium.
"This milestone is an important step towards processing industrial emissions as raw materials instead of as waste"
The Steelanol installation is expected to reduce the Ghent site’s carbon emissions by 125,000 tonnes a year, contributing to the EU's 2030 Climate Target Plan, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by the end of the decade.
The bioethanol produced at the Ghent plant is versatile. It can be sold directly into fuel markets or further refined for use in various consumer products, including clothing, personal care items and packaging. The first batch from the Steelanol plant will be refined and sold to companies such as cosmetics brand Coty.
The development comes amid broader discussions about ArcelorMittal’s long-term climate investments, including the proposed installation of electric furnaces and a DRI (direct reduced iron) facility.
#FlandersNewsService | The inauguration of Steelanol at ArcelorMittal in Ghent, December 2022 © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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