Tata Steel facing a potential 27 million euro fine and withdrawal of its permit

Tata Steel must significantly reduce emissions of harmful substances within eight weeks, otherwise the Noord-Holland steel manufacturer will be issued fines that could go up to 27 million euros. The Omgevingsdienst Noordzeekanaalgebied (OD NZKG) has imposed a so-called penalty payment order on the company in two cases. The fines would be for 17 million euros and almost 10 million euros.

The environmental service also reported that it is "considering the step towards withdrawal of the permit" if Tata Steel's coking gas factory 2 still fails to meet the legal requirements in a year's time.

According to the OD NZKG, who supervise Tata Steel on behalf of the province Noord-Holland, far too many harmful substances - such as heavy metals and carcinogenic PAHs - come from the chimneys of their coking gas plants 1 and 2.

The environmental service published a report on Thursday that showed the measurements they had carried out in February and August. The exceedances were allegedly 20 times above the standard at factory 1, and five times above the standard at factory 2. “Tata Steel has eight weeks to take measures to stop these violations,” said the environmental service, who will return for another assessment after this time.

Both coking gas factories have been under increased supervision since 2023. De Expertgroep Gezondheid IJmond, which is the health expert group of IJmond, advised earlier this year that the outdated factory 2 has to be closed to reduce safety risks.

Tata is not planning on closing this factory until 2029 at the latest. The environmental service has imposed numerous fines on Tata in recent years because coke gas plant 2 emitted so-called “raw coke,” which releases toxic substances.

According to OD NGZK, this factory does not meet the legal requirements. The service already said in October that they are planning on forcing the implementation of measures. This is now being done formally through a so-called notification.

Tata Steel has to submit a plan of approach within six weeks to ensure that the factory meets the requirements. The company has been given a year to implement the intended measures. If it has not been successful by that point the service may resort to withdrawing their license.

The company has reacted in shock to the news. “We think the way these decisions have come to be very painful,” a written response by the steel manufacturer reads. They claim it is “completely unrealistic and impossible” to reduce the emissions from the coke gas factories 1 and 2 within eight weeks.

Tata Steel also questioned the legitimacy of the measurements carried out by the environmental service. "Tata Steel has serious doubts about the various measurements that were carried out at both factories during the year that led to this penalty. The measurements are demonstrably incomplete and incorrectly carried out in several areas," the company said.

Environmental organization Greenpeace called the measured quantities "downright criminal." They feel both the old coke factories should be closed down quickly.