Germany’s Environment Minister visits steel industry in Saarland

Svenja Schulze, Germany’s Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, visited the Dillinger steel rolling plant together with Saarland’s Economics and Energy Minister Anke Rehlinger, Environment Minister Reinhold Jost and District Administrator Patrik Lauer.

“We are thankful that you have come to see for yourself how the Saarland steel industry is helping achieve the climate targets,” said Peter Schweda, Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director of Dillinger and Saarstahl, as he welcomed the Minister. “We want green steel and are prepared to do our part for climate change. To accomplish this transformation process, we need political support and a reliable political framework,” Schweda added. He also emphasized that there are concrete options for reducing carbon, provided that politicians create the necessary conditions in coming months.

The Minister was able to see first-hand the importance Saarland’s steel industry holds for the energy transition as she observed steel plate for offshore wind turbines being rolled at the plant. Dillinger is a global market leader for monopile foundation structures in the offshore wind turbine segment.

Environmental protection in production was also a topic during the federal minister's visit. Around 36 percent of all investments made at the Dillingen site in recent years – totaling around €500 million – were for environmental protection measures. Additional environmental investments in the millions are currently being planned or are already being implemented. Construction of a coke gas injection plant that replaces some of the carbon used as a reducing agent with hydrogen marks the first steps being taken toward hydrogen-based steel production.

Board member Peter Schweda stated: “The energy transition will not be possible without steel.” The commitment of Dillinger and Saarstahl to environmentally friendly production must not be allowed to become a disadvantage in global competition.