ArcelorMittal Atlantique and Lorraine,
France-based subsidiary of global steel giant
ArcelorMittal, has announced that it intends to permanently close the liquid phase at its Florange plant, given the continuing economic difficulties affecting the French and European economies.
The furnaces at Florange have been idle since July 2011, waiting to see if the economic situation would improve.
ArcelorMittal commented, "After four years of challenging conditions, it is clear that there will be no swift return to pre-crisis levels. Today European demand is still approximately 25 percent below 2007 levels".
The company is proposing that in the future
slab for the Florange site will continue to be transported from Dunkerque, thereby maintaining the industrial chain in
France.
ArcelorMittal emphasizes that the closure of the plant does not represent the end of the steel industry in Lorraine. The company plans to invest in and focus on Florange as an important centre in the transformation of
slab into value-added high-quality steels for the automotive, industrial and packaging sectors.