The EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) meeting within the framework of the Swedish EU presidency took place in Luleå, Sweden, on May 30-31 with, among other things, visits to SSAB and Hybrit. During the two days, SSAB highlights the importance of continued good conditions for the green transition, including the need for Europe, together with the US, to develop ambitious green standards that support the transition of the steel industry globally.
“That Luleå with SSAB and Hybrit has been chosen as the location for this meeting shows the importance of and interest in the leading work to change the industry that is going on here. SSAB’s green transformation meets the requirements of the global political agenda: reduction of emissions, green transition, jobs and competitiveness. To succeed in the transition, we need effective frameworks, political leadership and action. It is also important that Europe and the US together develop green standards to increase market transparency and support the transformation of the steel industry globally, and we welcome that this will be taken up during the two days,”
says Martin Lindqvist, President and CEO of SSAB.
The TTC is the principal forum for the coordination of US and EU strategies on key global trade and technology issues. The meeting taking place in Luleå is the fourth of its kind. During the first day of the meeting, among others, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager visit the HYBRIT facility in Luleå. Sweden holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union.
“SSAB is leading the green transition in the steel industry, and together with our partners has demonstrated the strength of a fossil-free value chain, having already delivered more than 500 tonnes of fossil-free steel to strategic customers. We will reduce emissions by 10 percent in Sweden and by 7 percent in Finland. We are happy to be able to welcome representatives of the European Commission, the American government and ministers from Sweden to Hybrit in connection with the TTC in Luleå,”
says Martin Lindqvist.
SSAB’s goal is to manufacture fossil-free steel and to create, together with our partners, a completely fossil-free value chain for steelmaking. In July 2021, SSAB produced the world’s first fossil-free steel from sponge iron made using HYBRIT technology, i.e. reduction using 100% fossil-free hydrogen instead of coal and coke. In 2026, SSAB intends to supply the market with fossil-free steel at a commercial scale.
SSAB, LKAB and Vattenfall created HYBRIT, Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology, in 2016 with the goal of developing a technology for fossil-free iron- and steelmaking. HYBRIT technology replaces coal and coke, traditionally used for iron ore-based steelmaking, with fossil-free electricity and hydrogen. The process largely removes carbon dioxide emissions from steelmaking.
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