First World Sustainable Transport Day: discover ArcelorMittal’s commitment to the rail sector
“The transport sector is responsible for approximately one quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. Ninety-one percent of the energy used in motorized transport on land, sea and air is derived from fossil fuels.
This first World Sustainable Transport Day reminds us that the road to a better future depends on cleaner and greener transportation systems” says António Guterres, United Nations’ secretary-general.
A truly sustainable mean of transport
Rail emits far less CO2 than equivalent travel by road or air. It accounts for only 0.4 % of EU greenhouse gas emissions, while all EU transport accounts for 25% of the EU’s total emissions. Plus, it is the only transport means that has consistently reduced its emissions and energy consumption between 1990-2017, while increasingly using renewable energy sources.
Moreover, rails are infinitely recyclable. At the end of its service life and when it is removed from the track, a rail can be recycled as raw material to manufacture new rails or other steel products, which means a significant amount of natural resources and energy savings. This ability to infinitely recycling is one of the environmental strengths of steel.
ArcelorMittal committed to achieve net zero by 2050
As the world’s leading steel company, we are committed to leading our industry’s efforts to decarbonise, and to be part of the solution to the world reaching net-zero by 2050.
ArcelorMittal has started the construction of an electric arc furnace (EAF) for long products, which is expected to produce its first heat in the first quarter of 2026. EAF project will constitute the first step towards low-carbon emissions steelmaking in Asturias.
The reduction in CO2 emissions is achieved by transitioning from a process in which the main raw material was hot metal produced in the blast furnace using fossil fuels, to a process where the main inputs are scrap and direct reduced iron and which uses electricity which will be generated from wind and solar power. The new EAF will lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions of over 35%; this reduction in emissions could reach 1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year once the transition phase has been completed.
The installation of this state-of-the-art technology will enable ArcelorMittal to produce high added value rails, through a process that incorporates the highest safety standards.
ArcelorMittal Rails & Special Sections bringing innovation to the railway sector
ArcelorMittal Europe – Long Products Rails & Special Sections operates rail production facilities in Spain, Poland and Luxembourg offering a wide portfolio of products covering rails for trains, subways, trams, light rails, crane rails, crossings, and rail accessories, building an incomparable knowledge and expertise of these product range.
If you want to know more, visit: https://www.un.org/en/observances/sustainable-transport-day
