00:00Sparks fly non-stop at this steel production site near Amsterdam.
00:05But staff here say that business as usual is becoming something of a battle,
00:09with US tariff policy the latest in a long line of woes.
00:13We basically have costs related to the whole decarbonisation journey,
00:19and at the same time we face massive overcapacity across the world.
00:23And basically, so it's sort of a perfect storm.
00:28This high-grade steel is used for batteries, packaging and car parts.
00:32It's hard to produce elsewhere, meaning some US customers will keep coming.
00:37But the bigger fear is that more subsidised Asian metals end up in the European Union,
00:42as China looks for alternative markets amid flaring tensions with the US.
00:46That steel will be redirected, and with Europe being one of the only open markets,
00:51remaining open markets in the world, yeah, Europe is a likely target.
00:56If you have a lack of a level playing field, instead of innovation, you start cutting costs.
01:01You start basically, well, getting to survival mode.
01:05Energy prices in Europe also run much hotter than elsewhere.
01:09In this room, liquid steel is cast into slabs.
01:13The slabs come out at about 800 degrees Celsius, or 1500 degrees Fahrenheit.
01:19And even from afar, you can really feel the heat on your face here.
01:23This Dutch plant says it's steel optimistic.
01:27But in recent years, steel factory closures and job cuts have been announced across the EU.
01:32We've seen something like 30 million tonnes lost in terms of steel production in the last year or so.
01:42And when we turn 30 million tonnes into steel workers' jobs,
01:46we're talking about the loss of thousands of jobs across Europe.
01:51Brussels says it stands ready to back up this strategic sector.
01:55Last month, the EU unveiled steps to try and cut energy costs and stimulate demand for cleaner steel,
02:01with more action planned for late March.
02:03There is really a mix of measures necessary, making private investment less risky.
02:10But I think in general, making this, creating this, what we call them lead markets,
02:15so that the industry actors are really incentivised to invest in the decarbonisation
02:21so they can kind of reap the green premium.
02:23Though the EU insists this is in line with green promises,
02:27climate campaigners fear the bloc is backtracking on pledges to make polluters pay.
02:32Industry always says we are losing jobs because we can't compete with other countries with lower standards.
02:39And we would really not be happy with the EU participating in this race to the bottom rhetoric.
02:45Back at the Dutch steel plant, efforts to decarbonise are underway.
02:50But staff here say future-proofing an industry facing crisis now is no mean feat.
Comments