- The International Institute for Law and Environment (IIDMA) argues that the Gijón steelworks, owned by ArcelorMittal, operates in violation of current environmental legislation.
- The facility, which uses coal and ranks among Europe’s ten most polluting steel plants (Eurostat data), benefits from less stringent emission limits than those required by regulations.
Madrid, September 25, 2024 – The International Institute for Law and Environment (IIDMA) has filed an administrative appeal, now admitted for processing, before the High Court of Justice of Asturias, after confirming that the Principality’s Administration allows ArcelorMittal’s steelworks in Gijón to exceed permitted pollution levels. IIDMA echoes the claims that neighborhood groups and various organizations in the city’s western area have been denouncing for years due to the severe daily pollution they endure, including odors and noise.
Air pollution has serious health impacts, mostly caused by substances like PM10 and PM2.5 particles, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Long-term exposure to these substances directly correlates with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It has also been linked to increased mortality, particularly from cardiorespiratory diseases and lung cancer.
Given the high pollution levels affecting Gijón’s western districts, the ‘Platform Against Pollution in Gijón’ was established in 2014, uniting urban and rural neighborhood groups, political parties, unions, and environmental and civic organizations. The Institute maintains dialogue with this platform and has heard their demands, notably their strong criticism of the administration’s inaction in enforcing legal obligations on the company. As platform spokesperson Ángela Menéndez explains, “This is an area where many residents depend on this industry for their livelihood, so administrations are reluctant to ‘take the bull by the horns’ and demand urgent measures from Arcelor.”
In July 2021, ArcelorMittal signed a Statement of Interest with the Spanish Government involving a €1 billion investment to decarbonize its Gijón factory. The company’s main decarbonization plans included building a DRI plant for direct reduced iron production, primarily using green hydrogen, and a hybrid electric arc furnace powered by renewable energy. However, the DRI plant’s construction (which was approved for €450 million in state aid) remains entirely uncertain. The company has stated in various public forums that the project is currently unfeasible due to energy costs making it economically unviable. IIDMA requested a meeting with ArcelorMittal to discuss these issues, but the company declined.
“The non-implementation of the DRI plant means that major pollution sources at the steelworks—specifically sinter B and blast furnace A—continue operating,” notes IIDMA environmental engineer Massimiliano Patierno.
IIDMA believes the Principality of Asturias Government has been very lenient with the Gijón steelworks despite it being one of Spain’s most polluting factories. Currently, with the Asturian Government’s approval, the company benefits from less stringent particle emission limits than required by current regulations. The administration even authorized operational changes that, instead of reducing emissions, merely spread them over a wider area. This contradicts the goal of improving environmental quality and human health.
Advancing towards a green transformation of the steel sector is complex and faces significant challenges, with the first step being early, adequate, and participatory planning. For ArcelorMittal’s Gijón plant, the company must address this process by ceasing operations of blast furnaces A and B before 2025 and 2030, respectively, replacing them with alternative production methods based on renewable energy sources. Additionally, as Patierno reminds, “A DRI plant based on fossil gas should not be considered unless its use is transitional and doesn’t involve state aid.”
