Deep in the industrial heart of Wallonia stands HF4 a colossal blast furnace and silent witness to Charleroi’s rich steelmaking history. Built in 1963 by Thy-Marcinelle, this giant once produced up to 6,000 tons of pig iron per day for the rolling mills in La Louvière and Clabecq. Over the years, HF4 became a vital part of Belgium’s steel industry, eventually operating under Cockerill-Sambre and later Carsid, a subsidiary of Duferco.

After the closure of the nearby coke plant in 2008, HF4 had to rely on imported coke of lower quality, while demand from the automotive industry dropped sharply. These challenges led to its permanent shutdown in 2012.

Today, HF4 stands empty and rusting, yet still imposing a towering monument to a bygone industrial era.