Southern Steel Participates in Earth Hour Run: When Every Step Carries a Message of Energy Conservation

On the morning of March 21, 2026, in Hanoi, the running event in response to the movement “All people use energy efficiently and respond to the Earth Hour Campaign 2026” took place in a vibrant atmosphere, attracting thousands of professional and amateur runners. Joining this spirit, Southern Steel Company Limited - VNSTEEL actively participated through both direct running in Hanoi and organizing an online run within the company.

The coordinated participation of employees not only highlights a dynamic corporate culture but also reflects a proactive commitment to environmental activities.

Southern Steel’s delegation is committed to joining the public in using energy efficiently and responding to the Earth Hour Campaign 2026.

More than just a sporting event, the Earth Hour Run has become a community connection point, where each participant contributes to spreading messages of green living and sustainable consumption.

Despite not being professional athletes, for Southern Steel employees, every step carries its own meaning—a journey of awareness and responsibility.
“We feel that every step we take is like showcasing Southern Steel’s message of energy conservation to the community. This is also an opportunity to learn from the community about green lifestyles and to spread these values in both our work and daily lives,” a company representative shared.

From these simple steps, the message “Green Innovation – Green Future” is conveyed in a natural yet persistent way. Behind each step lies a long journey that Southern Steel has been pursuing: saving energy, reducing emissions, and moving toward green steel production.

Southern Steel’s delegation received medals and souvenirs from the organizers, contributing to spreading the message of efficient energy use and Earth Hour to the community.

Modern Technology - The Foundation for Green Production

At Southern Steel, sustainable production has been a strategic direction from an early stage, with a strong focus on investing in modern technology. The company has adopted a closed-loop production line designed, manufactured, and installed by Danieli Group (Italy), one of the world’s leading corporations in metallurgical equipment and steel rolling technology.

Investment in advanced production lines not only improves productivity and product quality but also ensures compliance with stringent European environmental standards. This serves as a critical foundation for gradually achieving green production goals.

A highlight of the production system is the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology used in billet production - recognized as having the lowest greenhouse gas emissions currently available in the metallurgical industry. Unlike traditional blast furnaces that use iron ore, Southern Steel’s EAF uses 100% scrap steel as input material.

Utilizing recycled materials offers multiple benefits: conserving natural resources, reducing industrial waste, and promoting a circular economy model in the steel industry. This is also a key approach to reducing environmental pressure amid increasing material demand.

In addition, the refining furnace system, material drying, and dust and fume collection systems are synchronously designed, ensuring strict environmental control throughout the production process.

Continuous casting at Southern Steel delivers significant energy-saving efficiency for the company.

Emission Reduction Through Technological Innovation

Beyond investing in modern production lines, Southern Steel has proactively implemented various technical solutions to optimize energy use and reduce emissions.

One notable solution is the use of Natural Gas (NG) in multiple production stages. This fuel, primarily composed of methane (CH₄), is considered more environmentally friendly compared to coal and oil.

In the electric arc furnace process, NG is used as a supplementary fuel to improve thermal efficiency and reduce electricity consumption. Oxy-fuel burners using NG accelerate scrap melting, shorten steelmaking cycles, and significantly save energy.

Moreover, methane is used for carbon injection to create foamy slag in the furnace, helping protect furnace linings, enhance thermal efficiency, and improve the quality of finished steel.

Another important transition is replacing FO oil with natural gas in billet reheating furnaces. This solution significantly reduces CO₂ emissions and aligns with the global trend of cleaner energy use in advanced steel plants.

The oxygen production station supplies oxygen and argon for steelmaking at Southern Steel.

Strict Environmental Control and Adaptation to Green Trade Trends

Alongside technological innovation, Southern Steel places strong emphasis on environmental management, considering it a key pillar in its sustainable development strategy.

The plant operates a large-scale dust and fume collection system with 4,140 filter bags and a suction capacity of up to 1.56 million m³ per hour, running continuously 24/7. Emission data is monitored online and connected to environmental authorities, ensuring transparency and regulatory compliance.

The pump system of the water treatment station at Southern Steel.

Notably, during 2017–2020, the company invested over VND 42 billion to upgrade its dust collection system, thereby improving emission treatment efficiency and production environment conditions.

In water resource management, Southern Steel applies a closed-loop circulation system, achieving a water reuse rate of over 90%. Additionally, a wastewater treatment system at the scrap yard, with a capacity of 950 m³ per day, has been systematically invested to fully meet national environmental standards.

Furthermore, the company proactively conducts periodic greenhouse gas inventories, including both direct emissions (Scope 1) and indirect emissions (Scope 2). This is a crucial step as the European Union implements the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which may significantly impact export activities of high-emission industries.

The transparency of emissions data, combined with continuous technological improvements, is helping Southern Steel gradually enhance its compliance with international environmental standards while strengthening its market position.

Southern Steel Company Limited – VNSTEEL is a member of Vietnam Steel Corporation (VNSTEEL), operating in the production and trading of construction steel. With 50 years of establishment and development, Southern Steel /V/ has become one of the most reputable and familiar brands in Vietnam’s construction materials market. The Southern Steel plant is equipped with a modern production line designed and supplied by Danieli Group (Italy), featuring a closed-loop process from billet production to steel rolling. The electric arc furnace technology using 100% scrap steel not only optimizes production efficiency but also contributes to resource conservation and emission reduction. Southern Steel /V/ products are widely used in civil, industrial, and infrastructure projects nationwide. In 2024, the company’s products were once again honored in the Vietnam National Brand Program, reaffirming the prestige and position of a long-standing construction steel brand in the market.

Minh Thuy