Federal Minister of Labor, Hubertus Heil, finds out about the advantages of electric steel at Deutsche Edelstahlwerke
As part of his summer tour in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hubertus Heil, the German Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, visited Deutsche Edelstahlwerke (DEW) in Witten Tuesday morning. The main topic of his trip is the transformation of work in the industrial heart of Germany. The minister was able to acquaint himself on site with the pioneering role of electric steel production.
Accompanied by CEO Frank Koch, Minister Heil toured the Witten steel and rolling mill where 1,800 employees are already producing steel with a smaller CO2 footprint. He was visibly impressed by the potential of electric steel produced in the electric arc furnace for sustainable “green steel” from Germany. Using recycled scrap and electricity –in future derived from 100% regenerative energy sources – the CO2 footprint of steel from Deutsche Edelstahlwerke is already today around 80% lower than the worldwide average of all steel producers.
Frank Koch said in this context: “Our steel from the electric arc furnace will become the green steel of this decade. We are setting the standard, also for the blast furnace route, but, as a medium-sized industrial company, we are often neglected by the political sector. We were all the more pleased with Minister Heil’s visit. We hope that in Berlin he will champion adequate support for the electric steel route in its further transformation.”
The Minister for Labor and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil, emphasized: “The primary industry plays a very important role for Germany. It is also important to me that Germany as an industrial location maintains the entire value-add chain. Innovation, technological progress, products that are sustainable and also of outstanding quality help preserve these important jobs in steel production.”
Minister Heil also spoke with employees and the Chairman of the General Works Council, Burak Bilal, during his tour. Last Friday, July 7, 2023, constructive discussions with labor representatives, the German metalworkers’ union IG Metall, and company management were able to conclude an agreement on a rescue package for DEW. The collective reorganization agreement including reconciliation of interests and a social plan will now be submitted to the respective bodies for approval. A major milestone for the realignment of Deutsche Edelstahlwerke will thus be completed shortly.
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Helmut Freiherr von Fircks
Communications
Steeltec AG
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