ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer Shuts Down Blast Furnace No. 2 Following Fire Incident

Fire Incident Forces Shutdown of ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer Blast Furnace No. 2

ArcelorMittal’s Fos-sur-Mer steel plant in France shut down blast furnace No. 2 after a major fire on October 8. The fire started at around 4:00 a.m. on two conveyor lines supplying raw materials to the steelmaking shop. Firefighters extinguished the blaze after five hours. Although no casualties occurred, the damage to load-bearing structures and the electrical substation forced a halt in steelmaking production. Plant management activated an internal security plan immediately, mobilizing around 70 firefighters and numerous emergency vehicles.

Operational Impact and Recovery Plans at Fos-sur-Mer Steel Plant

The blast furnace shutdown will last at least two days but may extend depending on damage assessments. The steelmaking shop serves as a critical part of the production chain, and its downtime threatens the entire plant’s output. Currently, the site operates on reserve stock, which is rapidly depleting. In response, management announced temporary measures for employees, including part-time work, training, or use of vacation days. The cause of the fire remains under investigation as technical inspections continue to evaluate the damage and recovery roadmap.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

This incident at ArcelorMittal Fos-sur-Mer highlights the vulnerability of steel production facilities to operational disruptions. Blast furnace No. 2’s shutdown interrupts the supply chain of slabs vital for further processing, underscoring the importance of contingency planning. The €53 million upgrade of blast furnace No. 1, set to become the sole furnace in 2024, should mitigate future risks and sustain capacity. However, this event may temporarily tighten steel supply and impact pricing in European markets, warranting close monitoring.