SteelAsia’s P30 billion plant in Quezon gets green lane status 

The Board of Investments (BOI) has endorsed the P30 billion steel plant of SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp. (SAMC) in Quezon province for green lanes to enjoy streamlined permit processing, according to a report by Philippine Star.

In a statement, the BOI said it awarded the green lane certification for the P30 billion heavy sections mill and new-generation scrap recycling mini-mill project in Candelaria, Quezon to SteelAsia subsidiary Candelaria Steel Inc. on July 3.

The green lane certificate was presented by Trade Undersecretary and BOI managing head Ceferino Rodolfo to SAMC president Andre Sy, chief operating officer Rafael Hidalgo and vice president for industry development Roberto Batungbacal

Created under Executive Order 18, the green lanes are aimed at expediting and automating the processing of permits and licenses for strategic projects.

The initiative forms part of the government’s efforts to improve the ease of doing business.

The project involves the construction of a state-of-the-art facility that will employ Electric Arc Furnace technology, prioritizing sustainability by using locally sourced recycled scrap metal instead of imported raw materials.

Through the process, SteelAsia said the firm can reduce carbon emissions by a minimum of 70 percent compared to traditional blast furnace methods.

SteelAsia’s facility is expected to begin commercial operations by July 2027.

Once in operation, the plant wilal produce up to one million metric tons of heavy steel sections per year.

It is also expected to generate 655 in-plant jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs.

The project is aimed at addressing the country’s heavy reliance on steel imports, which currently adds three to four months to local production timelines.

It will also complement SAMC’s medium section mill in Lemery, Batangas, which was also endorsed for green lanes by the BOI in 2023.

The Lemery facility, which is under construction, will produce medium sections and merchant bars that the country currently imports.

Both SAMC plants intend to supply the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project and help close gaps in domestic steel production.