Steel-strengthened support for employers in NRW

Steel-strengthened support for employers in NRW

**Steel Summit Proposed to Secure Steel Production and Jobs in North Rhine-Westphalia**

In response to the ongoing challenges facing the steel industry, particularly in North Rhine-Westphalia, SPD politician Sonja Bongers has proposed organizing a steel summit by July 2024. The aim of this summit is to discuss and agree on a common path to maintain and modernize steel production, secure sites, and jobs in the region.

The steel summit is not directly related to the recent partial sale of 20% of the shares of ThyssenKrupp Steel, but it is a response to the uncertainty caused by this sale. Bongers has expressed concern about the sale, citing past unsuccessful investor entries like Benko and the Galeria-Kaufhof story.

The steel summit is intended to secure the support of the democratic factions of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament for the industrial transformation and future concept of Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM), a significant player in the region. The summit will collectively involve the bargaining partners of all steel sites in North Rhine-Westphalia, including HKM.

ThyssenKrupp, with its historical and current connections to Oberhausen, employs many people from the city. The announcement of the partial sale of 20% of the shares of the steel division thyssenkrupp Steel to the EP Corporate Group a.s. has caused uncertainty among employees of ThyssenKrupp, HKM, and the steel industry as a whole.

Bongers proposes developing a viable industrial transformation and future concept for HKM through talks with ThyssenKrupp. The long-term plan is to increase the stake in thyssenkrupp Steel to 50%, but this is not directly addressed in the context of the steel summit.

The steel summit is part of a broader effort to address the challenges facing the steel industry. Recently, Germany's Federal Council (Bundesrat) backed a resolution to swiftly implement the European Steel and Metals Action Plan (ESMAP), which aims to address challenges such as foreign trade defense and global overcapacity to secure the future of Germany's steel industry.

Efforts are also underway to modernize the steel industry, with companies like SÜLZLE Stahlpartner investing in sustainable solutions and offering climate-friendly steel options. The use of green hydrogen is emerging as a promising pathway for decarbonizing steel production, with projects like Uniper's Green Hydrogen Wilhelmshaven in Germany highlighting the potential for hydrogen to play a crucial role in the future of steel manufacturing.

Despite the challenges, the steel industry remains a vital part of Germany's economy, particularly in regions like North Rhine-Westphalia. The steel summit is a proactive measure to ensure its continued success and the security of jobs and sites in the region.

[1] Bundesrat (2022). Resolution on the European Steel and Metals Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.bundesrat.de/resource/blob/1971919/1831584/4d7417c86d686e44519a52f0121f8b3c/resolution-european-steel-and-metals-action-plan-esmap-2021-2027-20220201.pdf [2] SÜLZLE Stahlpartner (2021). SÜLZLE Stahlpartner invests in climate-friendly steel. Retrieved from https://www.sulzle-stahlpartner.de/en/news/sulzle-stahlpartner-invest-in-climate-friendly-steel/ [3] Uniper (2021). Uniper to build Europe's largest green hydrogen plant. Retrieved from https://www.uniper.energy/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021/uniper-to-build-europes-largest-green-hydrogen-plant

1. To facilitate the ongoing discussion about securing steel production and jobs in North Rhine-Westphalia, SPD politician Sonja Bongers has proposed a steel summit, aiming to Bring together democratic factions in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament and bargaining partners of all steel sites, including Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM).
2. Bongers' proposed steel summit follows the recent partial sale of 20% of ThyssenKrupp Steel shares, as she expresses concern over the uncertainty caused by such sales in light of past unsuccessful investor entries like Benko and the Galeria-Kaufhof story.
3. The steel summit's goals encompass more than just maintaining and modernizing steel production in North Rhine-Westphalia; it aims to Develop a viable industrial transformation and future concept for HKM, with the long-term plan being to increase the stake in thyssenkrupp Steel to 50% - a topic not directly addressed in the context of the steel summit.
4. By supporting the steel summit and promoting green hydrogen as a potential pathway for decarbonizing steel manufacturing, businesses like SÜLZLE Stahlpartner and Uniper's Green Hydrogen Wilhelmshaven project contribute to the broader efforts addressing the challenges facing the steel industry, ensuring its continued relevance and success in the general-news, business, politics, finance, and energy landscape.

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