GFG Liberty Galati steel plant

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GFG Liberty Galati steel plant, also known as ArcelorMittal Galati SA, is a blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) steel plant operating in Galati, Galați County, Romania.

Location

The map below shows the exact location of the plant in Galati, Galați County, Romania:

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  • Location: Liberty Galati 1, Calea Smirdan 800698 Galati, Romania
  • Coordinates (WGS 84): 45.434119, 27.976244 (exact)

Background

Liberty Galati, previously owned by ArcelorMittal, was purchased by Liberty Steel in July 2019 along with six other steel plants including Liberty Ostrava.[1]

History

Formation

Integrated production began in July 1968, when all the components needed for steel-making had been set up and the first batch of steel came out at steel mill #1.[2] Activity grew at a consistent pace, and by 1972, there were over 50,000 employees in the entire works, including nearby industrial units.[2]

Since 1989

The Communist regime fell in 1989, and in 1991, the works became a joint-stock company called Sidex Galați.[3] This was acquired from the Romanian government in 2001 by a Mittal Steel Company subsidiary,[3] and its debts were forgiven.[4] When the latter took over Arcelor in 2006 to form ArcelorMittal, the plant took on the name ArcelorMittal Galați.[3] The number of employees fell from 27,600 in 2001 to 8,700 in 2011, mainly through voluntary retirements coupled with significant bonuses.[2][4] The privatization of the Galați yard was the first such successful endeavor in the Romanian steel industry, which fared especially well in 2006-2008, thanks to foreign and domestic demand for private infrastructure.[4] However, it suffered a downturn with the onset of the late-2000s financial crisis,[4] and output was 3.5 million tons a year by 2011.[2]

In 2019, the unit was purchased by Liberty Steel, a subsidiary of the GFG Alliance.[5]

Operations

Galați is Romania's largest steel works, and forms an important part of the city's economy.[4] It is also the only one not to use electric arc furnaces, instead relying on iron ore and coal to produce a special type of steel that welds more easily and is thus suitable for making sheet metal.[4] There are two processing plants; five furnaces, including two that run constantly; two steelworks, one of which always runs; three lines for constant casting; a hot rolling machine and a cold roll one; two sheet metal rollers; and a zinc plating line.[6]

A 2011 study found that two-thirds of Galați residents either worked or used to work at the plant or related factories, or had an immediate family member do so.[2] According to official records, output reached a maximum in 1988, with 8.2 million tons worth some $7.2 billion.[2] By the early 1990s, the works had caused serious air, water and soil pollution in Galați.[7] As of 2010, there were a number of waste disposal lakes behind the works, some containing cyanides, less than 2km away from the Danube.[8]

Plant Details

Table 1: General Plant Details

Phase Plant status Announced date Start date Pre-retirement announcement date Retired date Workforce size Power source
Main plant Operating[9] 1968[10] 7000[11]
Closure Operating pre-retirement[12] 2022-05[12] 2030[12]
Expansion Announced[12] 2020-06[13] 2025[14]
Expansion Announced[12] 2020-06[13] 2025[14] Planned 180MW solar farm and 20MW wind farm[12]

Table 2: Ownership and Parent Company Information

Phase Parent company Parent company PermID Parent company GEM ID Owner Owner company PermID Owner company GEM ID
Main plant GFG Alliance Ltd [100.0%] 5057811578 [100%] E100001000556 [100%] Liberty Galati SA[15] 4297372133 E100001010333

Table 3: Process and Products

Phase Steel product category Steel products ISO 14001 ISO 50001 Main production equipment Detailed production equipment
Main plant semi-finished; finished rolled[16] coated products; cold rolled; galvanized; cold rolled[17] yes[18] 2021[19] BF, BOF[12] 3 sinter plants (2 in operation); 2 BOF; 1 coke oven[20][21][22]
Closure semi-finished; finished rolled[16] coated products; cold rolled; galvanized; cold rolled[17] BF, BOF[20] 2 BOF[23]
Expansion semi-finished; finished rolled[16] coated products; cold rolled; galvanized; cold rolled[17] EAF[23] 2 EAFs (2x160-tonne Consteel technology)[23]
Expansion semi-finished; finished rolled[16] coated products; cold rolled; galvanized; cold rolled[17] DRI, EAF[12] DRI plant and EAF (MI.DA Minimill)[14]

Table 4: Crude Steel Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

*Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Phase Capacity operating status* Basic oxygen furnace steelmaking capacity Electric arc furnace steelmaking capacity Nominal crude steel capacity (total)
Main plant operating
Closure operating pre-retirement 3200 TTPA[12][24][12][12][24][12] 3200 TTPA[12][24][12][12][24][12]
Expansion announced 3000 TTPA[23][23] 3000 TTPA[23][23]
Expansion announced 1100 TTPA[12] 1100 TTPA[12]

Table 5: Crude Iron Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

*Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page for an explanation of the different capacity operating statuses.
Phase Capacity operating status* Blast furnace capacity Sponge iron/DRI capacity Nominal iron capacity (total)
Main plant operating
Closure operating pre-retirement 2100 TTPA[25] 2100 TTPA[25]
Expansion announced
Expansion announced 2500 TTPA[26][27] 2500 TTPA[26][27]

Table 6: Upstream Products Production Capacities (thousand tonnes per annum)

Phase Sinter
Main plant >0 TTPA[12]
Closure
Expansion [23]
Expansion

Table 7: Actual Crude Steel Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BOF Production Total (all routes)
2020
2021 2350 TTPA[28] 2350 TTPA
2022 1630 TTPA[29][30] 1630 TTPA

Table 8: Actual Crude Iron Production by Year (thousand tonnes per annum)

Year BF Production Total (all routes)
2020
2021 2300 TTPA[11] 2300 TTPA
2022

Blast Furnace Details

Table 9: Blast Furnace Details

Unit name Status Announced date Construction date Start date Retired date Furnace manufacturer and model Current size Current capacity (ttpa) Decarbonization technology Most recent relining
5 operating pre-retirement[12][31] unknown unknown 1978[25] 2025[14] Paul Wurth (parts)[32] 3100 m³[33] 2100[25] Injects oxygen-enriched air to reduce carbon

emissions methane gas use by 75%[34]

2023-03[35][33]

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of steel power plants, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Steel Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.

References

  1. "Liberty takes over Romanian steel plant in Galati under global deal". Romania Insider. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Increasing and decreasing the Galati Iron and Steel Company. It has been 45 years since Ceausescu cut the PHOTO ribbon (Romanian), Adevarul, Nov. 28, 2011, Retrieved on: Mar. 13, 2020
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Company history at the ArcelorMittal site; accessed February 19, 2012
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Adrian Cojocar, "Cum s-a restructurat în ultimii 20 de ani unul dintre principalii piloni ai industriei: siderurgia", Ziarul Financiar, 26 January 2011; accessed February 19, 2012
  5. Valentin Trufașu, "Liberty a cumpărat activele ArcelorMittal printr-o tranzacţie de 740 de milioane de euro", Adevărul, 1 July 2019; accessed October 14, 2019
  6. Company profile at the ArcelorMittal site; accessed February 19, 2012
  7. Robert Atkinson, The Environment in Eastern Europe: 1990, p.51. IUCN, 1991 ISBN: 2-8317-0036-1
  8. Marian Păvălașc, "La Galaţi se poate produce în orice moment un dezastru ecologic similar cu cel din Ungaria", Adevărul, 12 October 2010; accessed June 17, 2012
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20220120210025/https://libertysteelgroup.com/ro/?lang. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. https://web.archive.org/web/20220114120302/https://adevarul.ro/locale/galati/cresterea-descresterea-combinatului-siderurgic-galati-s-au-implinit-45-ani-ceausescu-taiat-panglica-foto-1_50ad7af17c42d5a66395f38c/index.html. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. 11.0 11.1 https://www.barchart.com/story/news/12328817/liberty-steel-galati-blast-furnace-down-for-maintenance. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 12.16 12.17 12.18 12.19 (PDF) https://www.gfgalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Galati-PDF.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. 13.0 13.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20221109095546/https://www.steelorbis.com/steel-news/latest-news/liberty-galati-to-invest-in-low_carbon-dri-and-eaf-facilities-1149859.htm. Archived from the original on 09 November 2022. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20221130060036/https://eurometal.net/liberty-acquires-dongbu-eaf-strip-mill-for-galati/. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20240125060313/https://www.romania-insider.com/liberty-galati-steel-plant-acquisition. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220121144844/https://factbook2018.arcelormittal.com/~/media/Files/A/Arcelormittal-Factbook-2018/AM_FactBook_2018.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220319103714/http://libertysteelgroup.com/ro/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/01/Liberty-Skopje-Production-Program-v.07.2020.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20210410194906/http://libertysteelgroup.com/ro/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/01/Environment-Policy-Liberty.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2021. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  19. (PDF) https://libertysteelgroup.com/ro/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/CERTIFICARE-ISO-50001-2021-EN-rev.2-.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. 20.0 20.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220127003611/https://www.libertyostrava.cz/pdf/LIB0053-Project-Delta-Brochure-ENGLISH_E.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. https://web.archive.org/web/20210303080637/https://eurometal.net/liberty-commits-to-220-million-galati-investment/. Archived from the original on 03 March 2021. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  22. https://yieh.com/en/NewsItem/143408. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 https://web.archive.org/web/20221129220941/https://libertysteelgroup.com/ro/news/liberty-signs-agreement-to-purchase-plant-and-equipment-from-kg-steel/?lang=en. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 (PDF) https://www.oecd.org/industry/ind/latest-developments-in-steelmaking-capacity-2022.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20221122085845/https://libertysteelgroup.com/ro/news/liberty-galati-hits-record-production-levels-in-2021/?lang=en. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. 26.0 26.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20221204022212/https://eurometal.net/liberty-galati-in-romania-to-raise-steel-output-50-this-year/. Archived from the original on 04 December 2022. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  27. 27.0 27.1 https://www.kallanish.com/en/news/steel/market-reports/article-details/eaf-and-dri-to-reduce-liberty-galati-co2/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. https://web.archive.org/web/20221210003529/https://eurometal.net/liberty-steel-galati-puts-bf5-on-3-7-million-care-maintenance-program/. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240302055359/http://libertysteelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Liberty-Steel-Sustainability-Report-2023.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 02 March 2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. https://web.archive.org/web/20240302055433/https://worldsteel.org/publications/bookshop/world-steel-in-figures-2023/. Archived from the original on 02 March 2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  31. https://gmk.center/en/news/liberty-galati-resumes-the-operation-of-blast-furnace-5/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  32. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20220929093913/https://www.paulwurth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Brochure-Refractory-and-Engineering-Hot-Blast-Stoves-en.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  33. 33.0 33.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20221205172143/http://www.sevenrefractories.com/liberty-steel-galati-romania-entrusts-seven-refractories-with-casthouse-management/. Archived from the original on 05 December 2022. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  34. (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20230116180549/https://libertysteelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Liberty-Steel-Sustainability-Report-2022.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2023. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  35. https://web.archive.org/web/20240322054220/https://libertysteelgroup.com/ro/news/liberty-galati-to-restart-blast-furnace-no-5/?lang=en. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

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