Salzgitter Breaks Ground on Germany’s Biggest EAF Project at HKM Duisburg

Steel News | 2026-08-03 11:24:15 | By Paul Ploumis

The project has secured €200 million in financial support from the German federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of a decarbonization program.

Summary

Major investment: Salzgitter’s HKM unit has partnered with Tenova to build Germany’s largest electric arc furnace at its Duisburg steel plant.
Green steel push: The €200 million government-backed project will support low-carbon steel production with annual capacity of up to 2.5 million metric tons.
2029 completion: The facility is expected to be operational in 2029, strengthening Germany’s steel industry and Salzgitter’s green steel ambitions.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Salzgitter AG has announced a major transformation at its HKM steel plant in Duisburg with the construction of Germany’s largest electric arc furnace (EAF). The company’s subsidiary, Hüttenwerke Krupp-Mannesmann (HKM), has signed an agreement with Italian technology provider Tenova towards designing and building the advanced steelmaking facility.

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The new furnace will have a production capacity of up to 2.5 million metric tons per year, with an expected output of around 2 million metric tons of steel. Once it becomes operational in 2029, it will become the biggest electric arc furnace in Germany and the second largest across the European Union. Construction activities are scheduled to begin later this month, said a company news release.

The project has secured €200 million in financial support from the German federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia as part of a decarbonization program. The investment is expected to accelerate the transition toward cleaner steel production. Additionally, it is expected to provide a big boost to Germany’s manufacturing sector.

According to Salzgitter, the project reinforces its commitment to sustainable steelmaking, enhances the long-term future of the Duisburg site, and supports the company’s goal of supplying low-carbon steel to industrial customers across Europe.