In Sweden, Europe's first decarbonized steel mill rises, stirring hope and doubt
The flurry of construction cranes is visible from far along the road, piercing the forest of birch and pine trees. On site, construction vehicles crisscross dirt tracks stretching several hundred meters, raising dust as they transport rubble and materials. Welcome to Boden, in Sweden's far north, at the location of the future "green" steel mill by the Stegra group.
This town of nearly 30,000 inhabitants is a 10-hour drive from Stockholm and 80 kilometers from the Arctic Circle. Lacking major tourist attractions, according to travel guides, it is mainly known for its military fort, one of the last in Lapland, active during both world wars and closed in the 2000s. It may soon be famous for its steel mill, located on the outskirts of the city, the first to be built from scratch on the European continent in half a century.
Founded in 2020, the start-up H2 Green Steel launched construction at Boden two years later. In 2024, it adopted a new name, Stegra – which means "to raise" in Swedish – as a symbol of its project's rise. The industrial stakes are high: If it works out, Boden's steel mill could become a showcase for a successful energy transition in European steelmaking; if it fails, it may be remembered as another Swedish industrial mirage after the collapse of electric battery manufacturer Northvolt in March, the largest bankruptcy in the country's economic history.
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