It seems a far-fetched plan, but according to project developer Pieter van Duijn it is ingenious, as the Dutch national newspaper Trouw reports. With the closure of Tata Steel, the IJmond region will, in one fell swoop, get rid of a heavily polluting steel industry in a densely populated area. The replacement with bio-based industries will create new jobs. And the Netherlands, which is struggling to meet its climate targets, could be enticed by the savings of 12 million tonnes of CO2 emissions a year, comparable to 40% of all road traffic.
Van Duijn has already made a bid of between 2 and 4 billion euros for Tata Steel on behalf of a foreign investor. The Dutch management rejected the bid, but the Indian holding could be interested. It wants to get rid of outdated steel plants in the EU, since making them more sustainable will cost several billions of euros more. Dutch authorities however, consider the plans too daring. Van Duijn is now focusing his hopes on the 9 September 2021 debate in the Dutch parliament, on the future of Tata Steel.
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