Steel producer, our member ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), has entered into a development agreement with environmental services company Veolia and Norwegian development finance institution Norfund to advance a portfolio of energy, water and resource-efficiency projects across its operations.
The structured programme is designed to convert identified decarbonisation and resource-efficiency opportunities into technically sound, commercially viable and potentially bankable projects. By combining AMSA’s industrial capabilities with Veolia’s technical and operating expertise and Norfund’s investment experience, the partnership aims to support projects capable of attracting the capital and specialist expertise needed for implementation.
Initial priority projects include the recovery and reuse of blast furnace gas, along with the optimisation and modernisation of AMSA’s steam and power-generation infrastructure. Capturing and reusing gases already produced during steelmaking is expected to reduce flaring, lower reliance on externally sourced fuel, and improve both the carbon and cost efficiency of AMSA’s operations.
Modernising steam and power infrastructure is also expected to improve energy performance, operational reliability and production resilience. The collaboration will further assess opportunities in renewable energy, water optimisation, wastewater treatment, resource recovery and other efficiency initiatives across AMSA’s operations.
AMSA primary operations COO Werner Venter said the partnership provides the company with a practical, disciplined pathway to improving the reliability and efficiency of its energy and utility systems while supporting its decarbonisation ambitions. Veolia in Southern Africa CEO Thierry Witkowicz described the agreement as a way to turn industrial decarbonisation opportunities into practical, investable solutions, while strengthening environmental security for both industry and communities.
Norfund senior investment manager John Shija added that the partnership reflects Norfund’s long-term investment approach, applying structured, disciplined project development to move promising ideas from concept to bankable investment. The programme will now proceed through detailed technical, commercial, financial and environmental assessment, with the aim of building a credible portfolio of financeable projects that support decarbonisation and strengthen the resilience of South Africa’s industrial sector.
Read the full article on Engineering News: https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/veolia-norfund-to-help-amsa-develop-resource-efficiency-projects-2026-09-21