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19 December 2025

Sustainable steel, strong future

Steel is an integral part of our society

The steel industry is one of the largest CO2 emitters worldwide, responsible for around 7% of global emissions. Yet steel is an integral part of our society.

It is the backbone of modern infrastructure. The automotive and construction industries cannot do without it; steel is safe, strong, affordable and sustainable. Steel also plays a major role in the energy transition. Just think of wind turbines, hydrogen transport or solar panels. We are facing a challenge: on the one hand, reducing CO2 emissions to combat climate change, and on the other hand, responding to the increasing demand for steel. The question is therefore not whether the steel industry should become more sustainable, but when and how the traditional production process can be made greener.

At the forefront of the new revolution

The steel division of Roba Metals, a company that started 88 years ago as a metal recycling company, focuses on the processing and trading of flat steel products. Two years ago, Roba Metals decided not to wait, but to enter into a partnership with the Swedish company H2 Green Steel, which now operates under the name Stegra. ‘A seven-year contract for guaranteed green steel from the world's first green steel factory. That's what it boils down to in a nutshell,’ says Davy Proesmans, Commercial Director of the division. Stephan Flapper, Head of Commercial at Stegra, joins the conversation. ‘We are replacing traditional coal with green hydrogen, which allows us to refine iron ore into green iron. The only thing released in this process is steam, pure water in fact. We use a giant electrolyser powered by renewable energy. With this process, we will produce steel in Boden, northern Sweden, that is almost entirely CO2-free, and we are very proud of that.’

More about Stegra

The next step in steel processing

Roba saw potential in Stegra’s vision and decided to enter into the partnership. However, the decision was not an easy one, as at the time of signing, only drawings of the steel factory and market expectations for green steel were available. “We convert 250,000 tonnes of steel annually, 150,000 tonnes of which is processed at our service centre in Genk. Nevertheless, a multi-year contract for green steel remains a risk, even for a progressive company like Roba. Ultimately, our customers must be willing to purchase green steel.”

And when can we expect white smoke? In other words, when will Roba Metals be able to deliver the first green steel products to its customers? “We expect to produce the first rolls of hot-rolled steel in 2026. We will then gradually roll out production with cold-rolled and galvanised steel. By that time, the Stegra team will consist of around 1,500 passionate employees, ready to show the world that things can and must be done differently,” says Flapper.

Davy Proesmans, Commercieel director Roba Metals

‘We are glad that we made the decision at the time and came on board,’ Proesmans continues. "Roba remains loyal to existing steel suppliers with a proven track record and plans for greening. The one does not exclude the other.‘ It is a logical conclusion that a turnaround in the steel industry revolves around collaboration. ’Stegra cannot do this alone. The demand for steel, and increasingly for green steel, remains as high as ever," says Proesmans.

We are ready

Can green words really be turned into green deeds? That depends entirely on the willingness of steel consumers to invest in steel with a lower carbon footprint. “If it were up to us, we would supply an increasing proportion of our steel in variants with a lower carbon footprint in the future. We are putting a lot of energy into reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions at our service centres and offices, but ultimately the biggest gains can be made in scope 3, the production of the steel itself. And to achieve that reduction on a large scale, we need our suppliers, but also our customers in the chain.”

And that’s exactly how it is. By joining forces, major steps can be taken. Don’t talk, just do it. ‘And that also means we have to be patient,’ says Proesmans. ‘The steel industry is in transition and that takes time, but in 2026 Stegra will start producing virtually CO2-free steel. Stegra is ready, we are ready. Let this be the beginning of a valuable transition that will continue, regardless of who is at the helm of current and future global economies.’

Steel at Roba Metals

Steel is everywhere. In cars, containers, shop fittings and office furniture. You find it in pipes, roofs and walls in construction. Steel is part of our lives. You will find steel in various forms at Roba Metals. Hot-rolled and cold-rolled. Processed with aluminium or zinc. The possibilities with steel are as flexible as it is sturdy. Your success starts with our steel. You are looking for a partner who is just as sturdy and reliable. Someone who thinks along with you and knows the international market like no other.

More about Steel
steel coils | Roba Metals Genk

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