The Düsseldorf district government has granted Duisburg-based steel manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Steel approval for the early start of construction of its Duisburg direct reduction plant (DRI plant). The company expects final approval by the end of 2024.
The approval notice for the early start of construction of the DRI plant is an "important milestone" in the approval process in accordance with the Federal Immission Control Act (BImschG). The steel manufacturer submitted the application for approval in October 2023.
Now that the work to prepare the construction site has been completed, the foundation work for the direct reduction plant can begin.
40 soccer pitches for a DRI plant
Over the next few months, a "veritable factory town" will be built on the site, which is just under 40 soccer pitches in size. Up to 2,000 people are expected to work on the construction site. The main part of the plant will be around 140 meters high and will be flanked by 60 buildings.
By awarding the contract to build a DRI plant with two melters to SMS Group in spring 2023, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe has placed what it claims is the largest single order in its history. The Duisburg site is thus operating one of the largest decarbonization projects in the world.
In summer 2023, the Group received federal and state funding totaling around €2 billion for its tkH2Steel project. The company's own investments would have accounted for almost half of this.
