German steelmakers thyssenkrup and HKM have teamed up with the Port of Rotterdam to discuss international supply chains of hydrogen to aid the producers in manufacturing ‘green’ steel.
Apart from import opportunities, thyssenkrup and HKM are also exploring the possibility of building a pipeline corridor from their port terminals at Rotterdam to their plants in Duisberg. The Port of Rotterdam is also setting up Porthos — a carbon transport and a CO2 storage site to produce ‘blue hydrogen’ under the ‘H2morrow’ steel project. thyssenkrupp is one of the project partners.
Though all three partners agree their plan will need considerable cross-border infrastructure, there is no disclosure on the initial investment required. Both thyssenkrup and HKM have been importing raw material from Rotterdam Port.
Steel producers in Europe will require substantial hydrogen supplies to meet their net-zero carbon goals by 2050.