Green Steel Transformation: LIBERTY Galați Driving Industrial Transition and Regional Resilience

Galați, June 2025 – LIBERTY Galați, Romania’s largest integrated steel producer, has taken a major step forward in its industrial transition by restarting Blast Furnace No. 5, resuming large-scale steel production after an extended shutdown. This achievement is expected to stabilize the supply of high-quality steel for strategic sectors such as defense, infrastructure, shipbuilding, and automotive manufacturing, while injecting momentum into the regional economy.

The restart will safeguard thousands of jobs and generate indirect employment opportunities in logistics, maintenance, and local services. For a city historically dependent on heavy industry, this development provides a much-needed boost to economic confidence and signals the beginning of a new industrial chapter.

A €1 Billion Commitment to GreenSteel

Beyond short-term recovery, LIBERTY Galați is accelerating its GreenSteel transformation strategy, investing up to €1 billion over the next 7–8 years to cut carbon emissions by as much as 80%. This ambitious roadmap aims to align production processes with EU climate targets and the Green Deal, making Galați a frontrunner in sustainable steelmaking in Eastern Europe.

Planned investments include:

• Two hybrid Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) to gradually replace traditional blast furnaces and enable scrap recycling at scale.

• A Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) plant, designed for a phased transition to green hydrogen, significantly reducing reliance on coal.

• A MI.DA minimill to enhance production flexibility and increase capacity to 4 million tonnes per year (Mtpa).

• Renewable energy integration through a 180 MW solar farm and 20 MW wind farm, powering operations with clean energy.

These technologies represent a fundamental shift from conventional steelmaking towards a low-carbon, circular economy model, reducing environmental impact while maintaining global competitiveness.

Resilience for a Changing Economy

LIBERTY Galați’s transition is more than an industrial investment—it’s a strategic move for the city of Galați, a region historically reliant on steel production. By embracing cleaner technologies, the company is ensuring long-term sustainability, opening new opportunities in green energy, digitalized manufacturing, and advanced engineering.

The transformation also underscores the importance of workforce adaptability. As new production methods and renewable energy systems come online, reskilling programs will play a vital role in equipping workers with future-ready skills. This aligns directly with SteelCityZen’s mission to support mono-industrial cities in developing resilient labor markets and building capacity for economic diversification.

“Our GreenSteel strategy is not only about decarbonization—it’s about building a future where Galați remains an industrial powerhouse, competitive and sustainable, while contributing to Europe’s climate goals,” said a LIBERTY representative.

As the GreenSteel program advances, Galați is positioning itself as a model of industrial transformation in Central and Eastern Europe—a city where heritage meets innovation to create a sustainable, inclusive future.