ArcelorMittal has announced a new project to improve air quality in Differdange. After announcing at the beginning of the year that it was installing --an investment worth €17.6 million--the steelmaker said on Wednesday 28 August that it had moved its liquid slag pits. Liquid slag is the molten residue produced during the metallurgical process, in particular when ores are smelted to extract steel. The material is treated and temporarily stored before being recovered and recycled by specialised companies, notably in road construction. This investment "illustrates the group's desire to answer the expectations of its neighbors and employees.", its press release stated.

Initially located on the edge of the site, the pits are now installed in a hall that was previously unused, close to the furnace. Prior to this, three months of testing were carried out, and the hall had to be refurbished. Other improvements included the creation of a new road, an extension to the storage area and pits, and the installation of cladding to insulate the building. "All without stopping production", the steel giant boasted in its press release.

-7 dB less noise pollution

This redevelopment should help to reduce noise pollution for local residents living close to the site. This is largely caused by the pouring of slag, which generates dust. “Noise pollution has also been reduced by 7 decibels, with the structure of the hall being an acoustic barrier, preventing the propagation of noise related to slag processing,” the company said.

""The rehabilitation of the hall took place in parallel with another major environmental project already known: the new dust removal system,” Pierre Jacobs, CEO of ArcelorMittal Long Products Luxembourg, stated in the press release. “These two joint initiatives confirm ArcelorMittal's commitment to the environment and to a better quality of life for the neighbours of our facilities. These targeted investments offering innovative tailor-made solutions demonstrate our desire to take into account the expectations of our stakeholders, both internal and external, in the conduct of our industrial activities.”

While the project does have an environmental objective, it will also improve employee safety, particularly in view of the risk of explosion when liquid slag comes into contact with pockets of water. According to ArcelorMittal, this risk has been reduced, “and the immediate proximity of the hall to the steelworks exit has made it possible to optimize the route of slag transport vehicles. They now circulate in a limited and protected area, with the least co-activity and without crossing other vehicles,” the press release stated. “This new configuration not only improves safety but also the logistical efficiency of operations.

Read the French language version of this report