New step in energy efficiency: turbine generates electricity from blast furnace gas

ArcelorMittal Belgium is collaborating with FINEG to enhance its energy efficiency through the commissioning of a new turbine at the ArcelorMittal Belgium site in Ghent. This “Top Gas Recovery Turbine” (TRT) aims to better utilize the energy content of blast furnace gas by converting the pressure of the gas released at the top of the blast furnace into electricity (6 MWe). This installation was officially commissioned on September 30, 2026.

FINEG is a public investor in renewable energy and the sustainability of industry, founded by sixteen municipalities. FINARMIT, a 100% subsidiary of FINEG, is an SPV (“Special Purpose Vehicle”) that was specifically established to finance sustainable projects at the ArcelorMittal Belgium site in Ghent.

The TRT turbine converts blast furnace gas from high pressure to low pressure , thereby driving a generator that produces electricity . This pressure energy is thus put to good use for energy recovery . This further enhances the energy efficiency of ArcelorMittal Belgium. By generating its own electricity from residual energy , the company requires less electricity from external sources, and CO₂ emissions decrease additionally. Moreover, the blast furnace gas itself remains available for further use on site after pressure reduction. It can subsequently be used in other installations, maximizing its energy value. The use of the TRT is also compatible with capturing CO₂ from blast furnace gas for future storage.

The turbine has a capacity of 6 MWe and is expected to produce 45,000 to 50,000 MWh of electricity annually. This corresponds to the average consumption of approximately 12,500 to 14,000 families. Through this self-generated power, approximately 9,800 tonnes of CO₂ emissions are avoided annually.

This project is part of ArcelorMittal Belgium's broader program on energy efficiency and climate neutrality . It is ArcelorMittal Belgium's ambition to become climate neutral by 2050. The CO₂ roadmap consists of three strategic axes: further strengthening energy efficiency, electrification, and 'Smart Carbon', whereby the company processes waste streams as raw materials. These strategic axes complement each other.

ArcelorMittal Belgium is continuously taking initiatives to strengthen this approach. The company already has 87 MW of renewable energy capacity (via 100,000 m² of solar panels and 17 wind turbines). As part of electrification, a 380 kV high-voltage connection was ordered from ELIA in December 2025. On the 'Smart Carbon' axis, ArcelorMittal Belgium has the Torero installation ( waste wood converting gas from container parks into biochar) and Steelanol (converting gas into sustainable ethanol), and the company is also investigating the possibilities in the field of CCS (“Carbon Capture & Storage”).

“ As a public investor, we strongly believe in the power of public-private partnerships to accelerate the sustainability of our Flemish economy ,” explains Filip Keppens, Managing Director of FINEG.

“ This project demonstrates how the Flemish industry is supported in making its production processes more sustainable and achieving its climate objectives. ArcelorMittal Belgium can realize the construction of this facility without having to bear the investment costs itself, and our Flemish economy benefits from a more energy-efficient industry with a smaller ecological footprint ,” adds Dirk Crollet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of FINARMIT.

“ The road to climate-neutral steel is being built with concrete projects such as this Top Gas Recovery Turbine. By extracting more value from the energy present in our processes, we strengthen our energy efficiency and reduce our CO₂ emissions. In doing so, we are once again taking an important step in making our production more sustainable ,” concludes Frederik Van De Velde, CEO of ArcelorMittal Belgium.