Green Steel transformation at TATA Steel Netherlands

On 10 July 2025, Impact MBA students from Nyenrode followed up on a guest lecture by Mark Denys, Director of Sustainability at TATA Steel Netherlands, with an on-site visit to the steel plant in IJmuiden. Before touring the industrial complex, students gained deeper insights into TATA Steel’s bold ambition to become a carbon‑neutral, circular steel producer by 2045 and to reduce CO₂ emissions by 40 % by 2030 through key technologies and process redesign. 

From lecture room to steel mill

During the tour, students observed the site’s current operations and heard how TATA Steel is executing its transformation through several flagship initiatives. Such as the landmark Green Steel Plan, which aims to cut 5 million tons of CO₂ per year from around 2030 by replacing Blast Furnace 7 and Coke & Gas Plant 2 with a Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) facility combined with Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) operations. Initially powered by natural gas, the DRI is designed to switch to hydrogen later when commercially viable.

Cleaner air, stronger commitment

Significant environmental improvement investments are already in motion. TATA Steel has launched the €300M Roadmap+ program, including the construction of the largest DeNOx facility in Europe (cutting NOₓ emissions by around 80 %) and introducing dust‑control measures for raw material handling. These efforts are designed to address local community concerns over health and environmental impact.

Setting global standards in steelmaking

The IJmuiden steelworks already rank among the top‑5 lowest CO₂ intensity plants globally, with a CO₂ footprint about 7 % lower than the European average and nearly 19 % below the global average, proving the value of ongoing efficiency and emissions optimization.

Understanding the challenges of transition

For the MBA students, the visit provided invaluable insights into industrial transformation at scale - from strategy and stakeholder engagement to infrastructure investment and cultural change. TATA Steel’s journey highlights the complexity of decarbonizing heavy industry, including regulatory pressure, energy transition costs, and workforce transformation.

A model for future leaders

The TATA Steel IJmuiden visit offered Nyenrode’s Impact MBA students a concrete case study in how a century‑old steel giant is reinventing itself. It serves as a powerful example of what it takes to lead a transformation toward a cleaner, circular, and competitive future - one decision, one innovation, and one generation of leaders at a time.