In 2023, the Raahen steel plant of SSAB was the largest producer of emissions among all Finnish plants participating in the EU emissions trading system. The total emissions of the facilities included in the emissions trading decreased by 19.2 percent last year from 2022, according to the Energy Agency.
The Raahen factory area of SSAB generated approximately 8 percent of the direct carbon dioxide emissions of Finland last year, which is a significant increase from 3.6 million tons to 3.7 million tons compared to the previous year. However, this increase was relatively small compared to other large emitters like Neste and Helen’s Salmisaaren power plant, which saw reductions in their emissions last year.
SSAB has outlined plans to renew its steel production process around 2040, aiming for it to be largely fossil-free. The company launched a low-carbon steel pilot plant called Hybrid in Lulea, Sweden in 2016 as a joint project with mining company LKAB and energy company Vattenfall. While this move may not significantly reduce SSAB’s Raahen factory’s emissions in the near term, it is a step towards a more sustainable future for steel production.
Neste made a decision in principle to end oil refining at its Porvoon refinery by mid-2030s and focus on producing low-carbon fuels and circular economy products instead. From then on, the Porvoon facility will exclusively produce these products, rather than being an oil refinery as it previously was. Neste estimates that the investments related to this renewal will be around EUR 2.5 million.
Helen’s Salmisaaren power plant has changed its schedule for stopping coal use once before due to security concerns related to supply issues highlighted by the energy crisis. Last year, they extended their operations until April 2025 instead of closing down as planned in April 2024 due to these concerns. The schedule for stopping coal use at Salmisaaren power plant has been extended once again until May or June 2031 instead of April or May as previously planned due to supply security issues related with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine causing disruptions in gas supplies from Russia via Nord Stream II pipeline . After these plants are no longer operational, Outokumpu Tornion steelworks area becomes Finland’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide from participating plants in EU ETS scheme . Tornio’s steel mills produced approximately six million tons of carbon dioxide last year which roughly corresponds with previous years level . According
