Conference Chair’s Welcome Address

 Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. (CZ) Dieter Senk

Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

When the Steel Institute VDEh invited me to become Conference Chair of the EOSC and CTSI 2022 conference, I did not hesitate for a second with my acceptance, because this conference combination connects proven tradition with forward-looking modernity.

Since its initiation in 1993 by the Steel Institute VDEh, the European Oxygen Steelmaking Conference has taken place nine times – with its latest edition happening again in Aachen, where the EOSC was already hosted in 2006. The sixth staging of the CTSI, on the other hand, is taking place for the first time in Germany and in Aachen, the location of one of the best-known and largest technical universities in Europe – the RWTH Aachen University. I would very much like to welcome you as participants to the 9th European Oxygen Steelmaking Conference and the 6th Clean Technologies in the Steel Industry from 17 to 21 October 2022 in this beautiful and historic city with metallurgical tradition.

The European steel industry is currently undergoing the biggest transformation since the European Economic Community came into existence. By 2030, CO2 emissions in the EU must be reduced by 55% compared to the reference year 1990, and in 2050 the whole European Union aims to be climate neutral. The road is long – but the technology is designed: The EU steel of the future will be produced on the basis of iron ore reduction with hydrogen in direct reduction plants and subsequent melting of the DRI with electrical energy. That is why the “Clean Technologies Conference”, as a building block for the future, comes at precisely the right time. And the EOSC is also highly exciting at the moment, as the oxygen converter has found its place and role in the future European steel production route: In the line with direct reduction and the melter, it will continue to be responsible for premium steel grades. And beyond Europe the converter is already now the reactor that melts 71% of the world's steel.

The Steel Institute VDEh offers you two significant and topical conferences in a lively university town in the heart of Europe. Be part of it and join us in Aachen from 17-21 October 2022! We look forward to seeing you!