The government wants to make a tailor-made agreement with Tata Steel Netherlands and is investigating the feasibility of accelerating sustainability plans

The government wants to make agreements with Tata Steel Netherlands in the short term and will investigate whether it is feasible to implement some of the plans more quickly. In this way, health risks must be reduced in the shorter term. Minister Adriaansens of Economic Affairs and Climate and State Secretary Heijnen of Infrastructure and Water Management wrote this in a letter in response to two reports on steel production in the IJmond to the House of Representatives.

The steel industry in the Netherlands is of great importance for the economy, employment and strategic autonomy of Europe, but must be cleaner and more sustainable. Tata Steel must contribute significantly to a healthier living environment and emit fewer greenhouse gases. To ensure this, Tata Steel Netherlands submitted amended plans at the end of 2023 for making the steel factory in IJmuiden more sustainable and cleaner. The plans describe the closure of Coating Gas Factory 2 (no later than 2029) and the replacement of one of the blast furnaces. In addition, the company wants to tackle scrap and raw material storage to limit noise pollution and significantly limit the consequences of raw materials being blown away by the wind.

Reports endorse urgency

Last year, Minister Adriaansens asked external advisors Hans Wijers and Frans Blom to investigate possible alternatives to Tata Steel’s plans so that the cabinet can make the right decision for a tailor-made agreement. The report with their conclusions will be sent to the House of Representatives today and endorses the importance of Tata Steel in IJmuiden for the Dutch economy, employment, innovation and strategic autonomy in Europe. Five possible routes have been developed for Tata Steel, ranging from doing nothing to a forced closure of the company. A route has also been developed with Tata Steel’s plans in which a number of measures are implemented more quickly and health benefits are achieved sooner. Each route has advantages and disadvantages, which, according to the advisors, should be assessed by the cabinet.

The IJmond Health expert group, which provides independent advice on health issues in the IJmond, recently issued its first advice. One of the recommendations is that the health of residents living near Tata Steel should be better taken into account in the granting of permits and tailor-made agreements. The expert group also urges that measures be accelerated in order to see clear improvements in air quality and health effects sooner, and that a health impact assessment be drawn up.

The government takes both reports very seriously, which describe that the health risks in the IJmond and Tata Steel’s sustainability task are so urgent that doing nothing or postponing a decision would be irresponsible. The cabinet previously decided that health must be given a prominent place in any tailor-made agreement with the company. The expert group’s advice once again indicates why this is important. It is essential for all parties, local residents, government and company, that Tata Steel becomes cleaner and more sustainable.

Executing plans earlier has the most benefits

Based on the conclusions from the reports, the government wants to take follow-up steps in the short term to reach a tailor-made agreement. The government is therefore examining whether it is feasible to implement Tata Steel’s plans, with some measures being implemented more quickly to reduce health risks more quickly. According to the government, this option offers the most benefits for rapid improvement of the living environment of local residents, reduction of CO2 emissions while maintaining employment and the economic and strategic value of steel production.

Minister Adriaansens: “We use steel a lot every day and it is indispensable for building houses, bridges and cars, for example. We also want to keep that production in our own hands. I welcome the conclusions of these reports. The importance of the steel industry in the Netherlands is clear, but it must be cleaner and more sustainable. Initially it is up to Tata Steel to achieve this. This must be accelerated, both in making decisions and in implementing them. Delay is not possible and I will commit myself to taking further steps quickly.”

State Secretary Heijnen: “I am confident that we are heading in the right direction with this choice. This is a very special milestone: health is really taken into account in agreements with the industry. It is now a matter of doing everything we can so that the living environment for those living near Tata Steel becomes demonstrably healthier in the short term.”