Blastr Green Steel (Blastr) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the leading regional power company Sogn og Fjordane Energi (SFE) for long-term supply of clean electricity to Blastr’s pellet plant at Lutelandet on the west coast of Norway, which is considered as a potential location for supplying feedstock to Blastr’s ultra-low CO₂ steel plant currently under development in Inkoo, Finland.
“This is an important step towards securing power capacity and grid connection for the potential pellet plant at Lutelandet which will leverage renewable hydro and wind power to accelerate the development of a decarbonized steel value chain,” said Hans Fredrik Wittusen, the CEO of Blastr Green Steel. “We are very pleased with the support from SFE and other key regional partners as we progress the development plan for the Lutelandet site.”
In August, Blastr selected the Lutelandet industrial area as a potential location for the development of a plant for converting iron ore pellet feed into direct reduction (DR) pellets. The site has established industrial infrastructure, access to renewable energy and a deepwater port at a strategically placed North Sea location.
Under the LOI, Blastr and SFE will work together to establish a long-term power supply agreement. The parties target signing a final agreement by the end of 2025, subject to Blastr attaining relevant regulatory approvals and making a final investment decision for the Lutelandet plant.
“We support the development of new green industries in western Norway based on clean energy and look forward to working closely with Blastr to establish a long-term power supply agreement for their green pellet plant,“ commented Bengt Jostein Haugnes, Head of Energy & Markets at SFE. “The LOI reflects our joint commitment to work towards realizing an important decarbonization project which may create a large number of jobs and significant value creation in Fjaler municipality.”
The pellet plant is a key part of Blastr’s integrated green steel value chain which has the potential to deliver more than 90% reduction of Scope 1-3 C0 ₂ emissions compared to conventional steelmaking. Blastr’s integrated value chain currently being developed will enable a unique, profitable business model with a record low CO₂ footprint for industrial-scale steel production and a platform for further growth. The plant will employ around 120 people and generate a substantial number of indirect jobs and economic activity in the surrounding area. The estimated investment is around EUR 1.2 billion.
Blastr aims to produce 6 million metric tonnes (Mt) annually of high-quality DR pellets as feedstock for its ultra-low CO2 steel plant planned in Inkoo, Finland. Approximately half of the pellet volumes will go to its Inkoo steel plant, while the rest will be sold to Cargill Metals for distribution to the growing world market for DR pellets.
In August, Blastr signed an LOI with Lutelandet Offshore Site & Drydock and Htwo-Fuel to explore Lutelandet as a potential location for its pellet plant. Blastr also has an LOI with Redcar Bulk Terminal (RBT) at Teesside, United Kingdom, as another potential location for the pellet plant. By considering two sites in parallel, Blastr maintains optionality during the development process to optimize the green steel value chain. Final site selection is targeted by the end of 2023, and the final investment decision for the pellet plant is expected in 2025, subject to relevant permits and agreements.
