Steel producer ArcelorMittal France has commissioned the Westfalen Group to build an electrolyser. The project in north-east France is the first of its kind for the Münster-based company. The plant will supply the ArcelorMittal plant in Florange from January 2026. Westfalen does not yet want to become active in H2 technology in Germany, as the general conditions here are too poor.
The French subsidiary Westfalen France has been supplying ArcelorMittal's steelworks in Florange with fossil hydrogen since 2010. As the industrial gases producer announced on Wednesday (3 July), this is to be replaced by green hydrogen from 2026, which will be produced by a new electrolyser on the plant site. Matthieu Jehl, CEO of ArcelorMittal France, and Westfalen CEO Thomas Perkmann signed a corresponding cooperation agreement in Florange. The associated supply contract will run "until the 2040s".
"Great success for the group of companies"
"The agreement with ArcelorMittal is a great success for our group of companies," emphasised Thomas Perkmann at the signing ceremony. "The project will not only promote our good partnership with ArcelorMittal - one of our largest French customers. Its realisation will also open new doors for us in the hydrogen market and further strengthen our position in the industry, and not just in France."
In total, Westfalen plans to invest tens of millions of euros in the project. In addition to hydrogen production from renewable energy, the company intends to build a hydrogen filling station "nearby" for trailer and cylinder filling. "The capacity of the electrolyser is designed in such a way that, in addition to supplying the steelworks, further quantities are also available for the market," says Westfalen France Managing Director Benjamin Bugeat. France is currently a key foreign market for the Münster-based company.
