ARCELORMITTAL NEW LIEGE PLANT
[BIZ: Luxembourg, October 10] In view of a much stronger demand than anticipated in 2003, ArcelorMittal has decided to rebuild an integrated steel plant in Liège. In this context, it is currently realizing the investments required to re-fire the Seraing blast furnace. Measures will have to be taken to bring the Liège steelworks' production costs to the level of the Group's other European plants. In addition, the continuation of production in Liège is subject to the sustained availability of the necessary CO2 quota. Regarding the downstream activities, ArcelorMittal intends to focus Liège on high return and high technology activities, such as Arceo, its prototype plasma vacuum coating line. Management pointed to the very negative evolution of the packaging market and to the need to reduce packaging steel exports and the Liège-based production of this product. ArcelorMittal announced its intention to further develop its R&D facilities in Liège, so as to give the region a strong innovative impetus fit to attract new industrial activities. The Group has also confirmed its contribution to the economic redeployment of the Liège region on the basis of local partnerships and of the experience acquired over the past four years, e.g. the creation of Magnetto Automotive Belgium and spin-offs. Under an ArcelorMittal mandate, Sodie to date has signed 107 conventions for a total of 1700 new jobs of which 650 have already been created. Michel Wurth said: ‘In view of the new bases for social dialogue, rooted in trust and transparency, it was important for us to discuss the new industrial plan in the framework of constructive consultation between social partners. Our ambition for Liège is to rebuild an integrated steel plant based on high return and high technology products’.
ArcelorMittal has unveiled its industrial plan for the Liège region. Michel Wurth, a member of ArcelorMittal's Group Management Board, explained the Group's plan for the region to staff representatives October 9 with regards to the steelworks' upstream and downstream activities (cold phase and packaging), to R&D and to its contribution to the economic redeployment of the region. Management and staff representatives agreed to pursue dialogue on the various aspects of this plan.
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