ArcelorMittal Europe is expanding the use of low-carbon transport methods, particularly for the delivery of its low-carbon XCarb® steel. The steelmaker reports successful trials of electric trucks and HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil)-powered lorries to transport steel from ArcelorMittal sites to customers.
Successful tests with electric lorries
In October 2023, the KS Service Centre in Moerdijk, the Netherlands, received its first delivery of XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel by electric truck. This milestone was achieved in collaboration with DFDS, whose e-trucks transported the steel from the ArcelorMittal site in Ghent.
The KS Service Centre, which is committed to sustainability, uses XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel with Magnelis® coating to offer its customers products with a lower carbon footprint. Following this successful trial, ArcelorMittal increased the number of e-truck deliveries to the KS Service Centre, with two trucks now arriving in Moerdijk every day.
In another trial, ArcelorMittal Poland used a Volvo FH electric truck to transport steel coils from its site in Krakow to the ArcelorMittal Steel Service Centre in Bytom and the plant in Świętochłowice in September last year. The truck, which is powered by eight batteries, completed 10 journeys over five working days, covering more than 1000 km.
HVO-powered lorries in France and Poland
At the end of 2022, ArcelorMittal's France Nord division launched a low-carbon transport project at its Florange site in France using HVO-powered trucks provided by logistics partner Geodis. This pilot project resulted in significant emission savings: 190,000 tonnes of steel were transported over 579,833 km and CO2 emissions were reduced by 82% compared to diesel trucks. The initiative will be continued in 2024.
Similar trials have taken place in Poland, where six HVO-powered lorries from Tesko Steel Logistic are being used on domestic and international routes, including to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Reduction of CO2 emissions through HVO
According to ArcelorMittal, the use of trucks powered exclusively by HVO leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions of 80 to 90 per cent. The initial focus will therefore be on HVO-powered lorries delivering to Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Poland.
Laurent Plasman, CMO Industry of ArcelorMittal Europe - Flat Products, points to the potential of offering low-carbon transport for steel orders, especially XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel: ‘Through our own trials, we have seen the positive impact of using HVO trucks for deliveries between our sites and are pleased that our customers can now also benefit from this project,” says Plasman.
In 2023, ArcelorMittal Europe delivered 27.5 million tonnes of steel, with road transport accounting for 38% of these deliveries. Switching to HVO-powered trucks for road transport, which emits an average of 65g of CO2 per kilometre per tonne of steel, represents a significant opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions. Currently, road transport has the highest carbon footprint of the different delivery methods, including barge, rail and ship.
ArcelorMittal Downstream Solutions' commitment
ArcelorMittal Downstream Solutions (AMDS) has also embraced low-carbon transport initiatives. The first test with electric trucks took place in October 2023 at the Madrid site, followed by further tests in Lyon, France, and Halle and Olpe, Germany.
In spring 2024, AMDS invested in its first electric truck for Madrid, underlining its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in collaboration with its customers.
AMDS CEO Cédric Bouzar said: ‘There is a great opportunity to rapidly reduce the CO2 emissions generated by the delivery of our steel to the hundreds of AMDS sites across Europe. It is also clear that our customers want to be involved in this project. We are currently running low carbon transport trials across the AMDS territory and look forward to extending the project to 2024 and beyond.”
Future plans and initiatives
Further trials are planned in other European countries. The low-carbon initiative also includes the use of B100 rapeseed oil in France, with 21 trucks running on this fuel and achieving a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 60% compared to conventional fuels. ArcelorMittal's innovative transport solutions are a key part of its wider strategy to reduce its environmental impact and help its customers reduce their Scope 3 emissions.
