SOME CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS IN EUROPEAN STEEL INDUSTRY

EU steel production is technology intensive and is highly innovative. The sector is facing increasing competition from non-EU countries. The industry has a strong competitive position on domestic markets, particularly in high value added products. The EU steel industry is currently producing high quality products for their downstream user However, the EU steel industry faces the following challenges: cost and availability of raw materials and increasing stringent rules on CO2 emissions, prevention and control of pollution and waste. In order to keep the current position of the market and to face these challenges, the EU steel industry should focus on: strengthening the capacity to innovate and manage sustainable development of the sector, improving the efficiency and the use of raw materials to be competitive where there will be a growing shortage of raw materials and rising price of investment in clean technologies, improving energy efficiency, reduction of CO2 emissions and energy costs. Given the significant reductions in carbon emissions made in recent years, existing technologies have reached their limits, which is little room for further improvement to further reduce these emissions. An increased effort in research and development is necessary for the development of new environmental technologies to produce steel. Complete research is conducted within the Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP). ULCOS program (Ultra Low CO2 steelmaking) is the most ambitious global steel industry in order to develop innovative technologies to reduce carbon emissions by 50% in the long run. Innovative products and their applications in steel significantly contributes to saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions. European steel industry is developing and producing modern materials such as Advanced High-Strength steel, which is essential to reduce the weight of cars and trucks. Innovative steel products also play an important role in improving efficiency in energy production and renewable energy development.