Aurubis, a German non-ferrous metal supplier, recently completed a significant maintenance shutdown at its Hamburg plant, where hydrogen-ready anode furnaces were installed for copper refining. Part of a comprehensive €95m maintenance and upgrade initiative, the €40m investment in these new furnaces enables them to operate on hydrogen, natural gas, or a combination of both. If solely fueled by hydrogen, emissions at the plant could be reduced by a substantial 5,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. This development aligns with Aurubis' commitment to enhancing efficiency and sustainability, with CEO Roland Harings viewing it as a pivotal step towards achieving carbon neutrality. Earlier, the company successfully tested hydrogen usage in copper anode production at the Hamburg site in a pilot project. Although it's not confirmed whether the furnaces will primarily run on hydrogen post-reopening, the potential environmental benefits are promising. The maintenance shutdown, which involved 1,500 workers, encompassed critical activities like inspecting the waste heat boiler, overhauling a smelter, and implementing a heat exchanger. Prof. Dr. Markus Kramer, Aurubis' Chief Technical Officer, emphasized the high quality and complexity of the shutdown tasks as a significant achievement for the company.