ArcelorMittal says France EAF remains on track

Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal has taken a step toward the construction of an electric arc furnace (EAF) production line at its location in Dunkirk, France, by inviting French President Emmanuel Macron and other officials to visit the site of the planned 2 million tons per year recycled-content melt shop.

ArcelorMittal says it will spend 1.3 billion euros ($1.55 billion) to undertake what it calls a major step in the decarbonization of its steel production assets in France.

In late 2024, the global steel producer and iron mining firm announced a “pause” in the investment, which will see it retiring blast furnace/basic oxygen furnace (BOF) production to be replaced by EAF technology.

In addition to recycled steel, ArcelorMittal plans to produce direct-reduced iron (DRI) for its French EAF, but the steelmaker said at that time conditions in Europe were not proving conducive to either DRI production or electric steelmaking.

“European policy, energy and market environments have not moved in a favorable direction,” stated the firm in late 2024. “Green hydrogen is evolving very slowly towards being a viable fuel source, and natural gas-based DRI production in Europe is not yet competitive as an interim solution.”

However, in May of last year, ArcelorMittal issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the project, saying it had been working closely with the French government, whose leadership has been “key in the defense of the steel industry in France and Europe.”

Now in early 2026, ArcelorMittal has welcomed French President Macron and several other delegates to Dunkirk to celebrate the conversion process, including two French heads of national ministries.

ArcelorMittal says the start‑up of the 2 million metric tons per year EAF is scheduled for 2029.

The company also says it “appreciates the progress made by the European Commission to better protect the European steel industry,” including additional scrutiny of steel imports and attention to closing perceived loopholes in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation.

“I must thank President Macron and the French government who, very early on, understood the challenges the European steel industry was facing,” says Aditya Mittal, CEO of ArcelorMittal. “Their support, and in particular their efforts to drive changes to the mechanisms defending the steel market, will benefit the entire steel industry in Europe, starting here in Dunkirk.”

Comments Geert van Poelvoorde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe, “The decision to proceed with building an EAF in ArcelorMittal Dunkirk, to produce low-carbon emissions steel at scale for our customers, has been made possible because we now have the conditions in place to make this project a success. The new tariff-rate quota will stem the tide of unfair imports into the EU, while the CBAM is now operating to create a more level playing field for European producers.”

ArcelorMittal says it has a steelmaking and iron mining presence in 60 countries, including steelmaking operations in 14 nations.