Future Of Steelmaker Tata Steel In Netherlands Is Hanging By A Thread

The future of the steelmaker Tata Steel in the Netherlands is hanging by a thread due to the carcinogenic substances that emanate from its furnaces. High amounts of iron, vanadium, manganese, chromium and lead. It is the main CO2 emitter in the country.

The conclusions of a scientific report presented this week compromise the future of the steelmaker Tata Steel in the Netherlands. According to this work carried out by the Institute for Health and the Environment (RIVM, in its Dutch acronym), high concentrations of carcinogenic substances have been found in the dust around the factory , located in Ijmuiden, which decrease when moving away from the zone.

The steel company is part of Tata Steel Europe, a subsidiary of the Indian multinational of the same name, and employs, directly and indirectly, more than 40,000 people in the Netherlands , who would be affected by a possible closure of the factory. In that regard, the Dutch Parliament will take a decision on this next week.

After analyzing dust samples collected in the factory environment with others taken in streets and homes far from its facilities, experts have concluded that the amounts of iron, vanadium, manganese, chromium and lead found exceed the limits considered safe for health . The neighbors are factory workers and, as reported in the newspaper El País , they have been complaining for years about the presence of this dust in their streets.

Hans van den Berg, CEO of Tata Steel, has admitted on the Dutch TV show Nieuwsuur that they are the main emitter of CO2 in the country . According to data from the Dutch Ministry of Economy and Environment, Tata Steel emitted about 4% of the country’s total CO2 emissions in 2020.

Aware of the transition towards a more sustainable steel production, Tata Steel has spent 300 million euros in environmental measures , but they are not enough and, therefore, they will have to speak with the Dutch Government. The steelmaker has proposed to reduce its CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030, a preliminary step towards achieving zero emission production by 2050.