The project also
aims to foster the transition to a circular economy by reusing by-products and
increasing the recovery of other metals from scrap.
The European Investment Bank (EIB)
is granting a €350 million loan to Danieli, a global leader in steel plant
production based in Italy. The EU bank loan will help to promote the circular economy through the production
of recycled steel at the plants of Acciaierie Bertoli Safau S.p.A.
in Cargnacco, Udine, Italy, and of Acciaierie Bertoli Safau Sisak
d.o.o. in Croatia. This is the fifth operation signed by the EIB and Danieli in the last 25 years, totalling
€580 million.
The EIB financing will help Danieli Group achieve climate neutrality
by 2050, contributing to the development of innovative technologies for
producing steel using electric arc furnaces (EAFs) and minimills. The project
also aims to foster the transition to a circular economy by reusing by-products
and increasing the recovery of other metals from scrap. In concrete terms, the
EIB resources will go towards the design and creation of green plants with
three major positive effects:
1. Reducing specific energy
use via plant efficiency, making it possible to cut CO2 emissions per tonne of
steel produced.
2. Driving the circular economy via the recycling of
scrap to produce steel, promoting the responsible management of this type of
material and limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The local reuse of scrap
prevents it from being exported from Europe to other countries across the
world, only for new material to be extracted.
3. Creating new, stable jobs,
as well as improving STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)
skills.
In total, 65% of the EIB
funds (€227.5 million) will be allocated to Danieli's Italian plants in Udine
province, while the remaining 35% (€122.5 million) will go to the plants in
Sisak, Croatia.
In addition, EIB estimates
indicate that the development of innovative and advanced manufacturing
technologies (AMT), and the reuse of by-products and other metals will help Danieli to reduce its environmental
impact considerably and create new jobs in both Italy and Croatia. The EU bank
estimates that 250 jobs will be created during the implementation of the
project.