“We welcome the (court’s) decision to resolve outstanding issues related to the permit for our new steel plant in Luleå,” said Carl Orrling, SSAB’s chief technical officer and head of its transformation office.

“Removing uncertainty provides clarity and stability for our transformation. The new plant will give us a stronger cost position, a more attractive product mix with premium steels, and greater flexibility to manage demand fluctuations. When we close the current production, we will virtually eliminate our carbon emissions in Luleå.”

According to SSAB, Land and Environment Court of Appeal concluded that the new mill’s location is appropriate and that electric arc furnaces meet the requirement for best available technology. The ruling specifies that emission monitoring will not only be delegated to the supervisory authority but also regulated in the permit, SSAB said.

“We are very pleased that the Court of Appeal has now confirmed our permit and that the transformation project can proceed as planned. For SSAB, the ruling means that certain investigations will be carried out during a trial period after the new plant is commissioned. We will now continue working to meet the conditions set and ensure the project is implemented responsibly,” said Sara Arvidson, head of environment and energy at SSAB.