Corus chief executive, Philippe Varin, is in a fighting mood and has threatened to shift its steelmaking operations in Europe to China if carbon emission regulations were not amended.

Varin, who also chairs Climate Change Policy Group of the World Steel Association, warned that if Corus was forced to purchase CO2 credits in the absence of a system to improve manufacturing process, it would stop producing steel in Europe. He added that the reduction of carbon emission in steel manufacture required breakthrough technology, which is very expensive, costing 200m to 300m euros to upgrade a 1m tonne capacity production plant.

Varin, who spoke at the UN Climate Change Conference in Poznan declared that it was not prepared to fund upgradation of the plant and to pay penalties for CO2 emissions, as this would wipe out Corus’s profits and put the company at disadvantage with competitors from countries which had no caps on carbon emissions.

He emphasised that only improved technology could help reduce emission but at cost and carbon tax could not be an answer to it. This would force manufacturers to shift growth to other nations, leading not only to demise of European industry but also to production of twice as much carbon dioxide, warned Varin.

The steel industry was seeking replacement of carbon abatement schemes of 1997 Kyoto Protocol with sectoral system that would provide free carbon allowances up to benchmark set by the industry.

Things to consider:
Find your Card Making materials and ideas at the Craftsite!
Stainless Steel Laser Cutting
nothing is getting through this steel door
Timber garages at courtyard designs