Luxembourg trade unions LCGB have issued a press release to voice their concerns over the future of ArcelorMittal Dudelange. The plant is currently up for sale together with a number of lines controlled by the group in Liege, Belgium.

In the statement the unions confirmed the rumours circulating regarding the interest of Liberty House in acquiring the Luxembourg mill. They nevertheless also explained that they believe the sale to Liberty would put at risk the future of the Dudelange workforce, as Liberty is seen as mainly interested in the financial aspect of the acquisition rather than its industrial value.

Liberty House agreed last month to acquire from ArcelorMittal a number of steelmaking and rolling assets in Romania, Czech Republic, Macedonia and Italy. Pending the deal’s conclusion this will make Liberty a leading player in the European steel market, Kallanish notes.

“Today, LCGB once again urges national political actors as well as ArcelorMittal executives not to give priority to the possible path of acquisition by a purely financial player, which could have an extremely detrimental effect for the future of the 300 jobs at the Dudelange site in the years to come,” the union statement reads.
 
As reported, other interested parties for the assets in Luxembourg and Belgium are said to be Salzgitter, NLMK Europe and SSAB; a sale agreement is expected to be announced before the end of the year. LCGB notes in its release that a sale to Salzgitter would be welcomed as “…it represents continuity within the steel sector.”