By Petre Barac

Copyright thediplomat

At the 2025 edition of the Green Energy Conference, organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest, Ignacio Ristorto, Energy Sr. Manager at TenarisSilcotub, shared key insights into the company’s decarbonization strategy and its evolving role as an industrial prosumer in Romania’s energy landscape.

TenarisSilcotub produces seamless steel tubes with small diameters used in various applications such as oil and gas, energy industry, the automotive sector, and other industrial uses. In Romania, the company operates in 9 locations, including three production facilities: Călărași, Zalău, and Câmpina.

TenarisSilcotub has embraced the role of industrial prosumer with a clear focus on sustainability and energy autonomy. “Sustainability is at the core of our long-term strategy,” said Ignacio Ristorto.

A flagship initiative in this direction is the recently inaugurated 20 MW photovoltaic park in Călăraşi, a $21.5 million investment co-financed through Romania’s PNRR program. The solar park supplies green energy directly to the steel mill, marking a significant step toward reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy resilience.

While solar installation covers only part of TenarisSilcotub’s energy needs, the company has implemented complementary measures that ensure around 40% of its total energy consumption comes from renewable sources. This integrated approach not only supports decarbonization but also strengthens competitiveness in a volatile energy market.

Energy efficiency is deeply embedded in TenarisSilcotub’s operational culture. “Continuous improvement is in the DNA of Tenaris,” Ristorto emphasized. “Energy efficiency means using less energy to achieve the same output.” The company has mobilized dedicated task forces focused on optimizing energy use across production and logistics. These teams have driven improvements in natural gas consumption, compressed air systems, and heat recovery. Moreover, TenarisSilcotub’s Romanian operations are now certified under the ISO 50001 energy management standard, reinforcing its commitment to systematic energy performance.

TenarisSilcotub’s steel production relies on electric arc furnaces (EAF), using 97% recycled steel scrap—a process that significantly reduces CO₂ emissions compared to traditional methods. Despite being electro-intensive, the company ranks among the top 20 global steel producers for lowest carbon emissions and continues to innovate toward even lower carbon intensity.

Ignacio Ristorto (photo) also addressed the challenges faced by energy-intensive industries in Romania. “One of the main barriers has been the sharp increase in energy costs, especially in 2022, which doubled the electricity share in production costs,” he noted. The impact of EU sanctions on Russian energy and the shift to LNG supply continues to affect industrial competitiveness.