Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works of Zaporizhzhia has re-commissioned a pulverized coal injection (PCI) unit to reduce the cost of pig iron production.
According to the company’s Facebook post, the equipment was temporarily suspended due to unstable power supply and logistical constraints associated with the full-scale war.
“Now, thanks to the team of #Zaporizhstal blast furnace workers, the equipment is back in operation and operates by blowing pulverized coal into the blast furnaces. The use of pulverized coal technology reduces the cost of pig iron without affecting its quality and increases the productivity of Zaporizhstal’s blast furnaces,” the plant said in a statement.
As reported earlier, Zaporizhstal switched to the use of energy-efficient PCI technology in blast furnace production in October 2011: the project was launched in the first quarter of 2008, and the contract for the supply of technology and equipment was signed in 2006 with the German company Küttner.
The plant became the third steelmaker in Ukraine to implement PCI technology, following Donetsk Iron and Steel Works (DMZ) and Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works (Luhansk Oblast). The technology involves feeding wet PCI coke to grinding mills, where the coal is ground to dust, or particles smaller than 90 microns. It is then dried and blown into the combustion chamber – the blast furnace furnace.
“Zaporizhstal recouped the cost of constructing the pulverized coal plant worth about UAH 1 billion, including UAH 350 million for the construction of the basic coal storage facility (BCF), in 1.5 years after commissioning. The use of the PCI technology made it possible to increase the productivity of blast furnaces by an average of 10-15%.
“In the first nine months of 2023, Zaporizhstal reduced its net loss by 91.8% compared to the same period in 2022, to UAH 236.623 million from UAH 2 billion 883.850 million, while its net income for the period increased by 9.2% to UAH 41 billion 329.014 million. Retained earnings as of the end of September 2023 amounted to UAH 28 billion 961.786 million.
“Zaporizhstal ended 2022 with a net loss of UAH 4 billion 864 million 684.828 thousand, while in 2021 it made a net profit of UAH 16 billion 809 million 158.412 thousand.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are widely known and in demand in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
According to the NDU for the third quarter of 2023, Kyiv Securities Group LLC owns 24.5003% of Zaporizhstal shares, Midland Capital Management LLC (both Kyiv, registered at the same address) owns 11.2224%, Global Steel Investments Limited (UK) owns 12.3466%, and Metinvest B.V. (Netherlands) owns 47.0032%.
Earlier it was reported that Metinvest Group’s effective shareholding in Zaporizhstal remains at 49.9%.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Holding Group (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
In January-November this year, Ukraine reduced pig iron exports in physical terms by 3% compared to the same period last year, to 1 million 190.442 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), pig iron exports in monetary terms amounted to $450.576 million in the period under review (down 25.2%).
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to Poland (53.49% of supplies in monetary terms), Spain (22.4%) and the United States (9.95%).
In the first eleven months of 2023, Ukraine imported 79 tons of pig iron worth $132 thousand from Germany (50.38%) and Brazil (49.62%), while no pig iron was imported in November. In the same period last year, 40 tons of pig iron worth $23 thousand were imported.
As reported, in 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron by 59% in physical terms compared to the previous year – to 1 million 325.275 thousand tons, and by 61.1% in monetary terms – to $638.774 million.
In 2022, Ukraine imported 40 tons of pig iron worth $23 thousand, while in 2021 it imported 185 tons of pig iron worth $226 thousand.
Exports were made mainly to the United States (38.47% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (32.91%), and Turkey (8.12%), while imports were made from Germany (100%).
“Metinvest reduced steel production by 43% year-on-year to 1.531 million tons in January-September this year, according to a press release from the parent company Metinvest B.V. on Wednesday, following the results of the third quarter and nine months of this year.
During this period, pig iron production decreased by 46% to 1.344 million tons, coke production by 31% to 948 thousand tons, and commercial coke production increased by 7% to 644 thousand tons.
At the same time, it is noted that due to the outbreak of Russia’s large-scale military aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Metinvest decided to suspend production at a number of its enterprises in Mariupol, Avdiivka and Zaporizhzhia, including Azovstal, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol, Avdiivka Coke and Zaporizhzhia Coke. Later, Zaporizhzhia-based enterprises of the Group resumed production.
As of today, the Group’s Ukrainian enterprises, except for those located in Mariupol and Avdiivka, continue to operate at varying levels of utilization, taking into account security, electricity supply, logistics and economic factors.
In the third quarter of 2023, pig iron production decreased by 10% quarter-on-quarter to 425 thousand tons, mainly due to the shutdown of blast furnace No. 1 at Kametstal for a scheduled overhaul. As a result, steel production decreased by 8% to 499 thousand tons. Over the first nine months of the year, the Group’s iron and steel production decreased by 46% and 43%. The suspension of production at the Mariupol plants from the end of February 2022 was partially offset by volumes at Kametstal.
In the third quarter, the Group produced 159 thousand tonnes of semi-finished products, down 27% quarter-on-quarter, mainly due to higher domestic consumption at downstream stages.
In addition, in the first nine months of 2023, the output of semi-finished products decreased by 26% to 657 thousand tons due to the absence of production at Mariupol plants since the end of February 2022. This was partially offset by an increase in the production of commercial billets at Kametstal’s facilities.
In the third quarter, Metinvest’s output of finished products decreased by 3% quarter-on-quarter to 583 thousand tons. At the same time, flat products production decreased by 27 thousand tons to 267 thousand tons due to a reduction in the order book at the rolling mills in Italy and the UK. This was partially offset by an increase in galvanized cold-rolled coil production at Unisteel Ukraine as the fourth inductor was restarted after being shut down for overhaul in the second quarter.
At the same time, long products production increased by 9 thousand tons to 316 thousand tons, mainly due to an increase in the rebar order book at Kametstal.
In the first nine months of 2023, finished product output fell by 26% to 1.728 million tons. At the same time, flat products production decreased by 666 thousand tons to 847 thousand tons due to the shutdown of Mariupol’s plants. This was partially offset by an increase in hot-rolled plates production at re-rolling mills in Italy and the UK as third-party slab supplies were restored.
In turn, long products output increased by 72 thousand tonnes to 881 thousand tonnes due to the stabilization of billet production at Kametstal and normalization of supplies to Promet Steel in Bulgaria.
There was no output of rail and pipe products as they were produced at Mariupol-based plants.
Coke production in the third quarter decreased by 9% quarter-on-quarter to 299 thousand tons, mainly due to lower coke demand at Kametstal. Over the first nine months of the year, this figure fell by 31% to 948 thousand tons due to the suspension of production at Azovstal and Avdiivka Coke.
As reported earlier, in January-March 2023, Metinvest reduced steel production by 75% compared to the same period in 2022 to 491 thousand tons, pig iron production also by 75% to 448 thousand tons, and coke production by 59% to 318 thousand tons, including a 1% increase in commercial coke production to 213 thousand tons.
In the first half of 2023, the Group reduced steel production by 57% year-on-year to 1.032 million tonnes, pig iron by 59% to 918 thousand tonnes, and coke by 40% to 648 thousand tonnes, including a 7% increase in commercial coke production to 429 thousand tonnes.
“In 2022, Metinvest decreased steel production by 69% compared to 2021, to 2.918 million tons, pig iron by 72%, to 2.743 million tons, coke by 64%, to 1.653 million tons, including commercial coke by 49%, to 811 thousand tons.
“Metinvest comprises mining and metallurgical enterprises located in Ukraine, Europe and the USA.
Metinvest’s major shareholders are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage the company.
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
In January-October this year, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron in physical terms by 3.2% compared to the same period last year, to 1 million 113.079 thousand tons.
According to the statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), pig iron exports in monetary terms amounted to $423.414 million in the period under review (down 26.3%).
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to Poland (56.20% of supplies in monetary terms), Spain (22.64%) and the United States (6.24%).
In ten months of 2023, Ukraine imported 79 tons of pig iron worth $132 thousand from Germany (50.38%) and Brazil (49.62%), while in October, imports of pig iron amounted to $1 thousand. In the same period last year, 16 tons of pig iron were imported from Germany for $29 thousand.
As reported, in 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron by 59% in physical terms compared to the previous year – to 1 million 325.275 thousand tons, and by 61.1% in monetary terms – to $638.774 million.
In 2022, Ukraine imported 40 tons of pig iron worth $23 thousand, while in 2021 it imported 185 tons of pig iron worth $226 thousand.
Exports were made mainly to the United States (38.47% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (32.91%), and Turkey (8.12%), while imports were made from Germany (100%).
In January-September of this year, Ukraine reduced pig iron exports in physical terms by 1.6% compared to the same period last year, to 1 million 60,091 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), pig iron exports in monetary terms amounted to $405.961 million in the period under review (down 26.3%).
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to Poland (56.92% of supplies in monetary terms), Spain (22.05%) and the United States (6.51%).
In the first nine months of 2023, Ukraine imported 78 tons of pig iron worth $129 thousand from Germany (49.61%) and Brazil (50.39%), while no pig iron was imported in June and July. In the same period last year, 15 tons of pig iron were imported from Germany for $25 thousand.
As reported, in 2022, Ukraine reduced exports of processed pig iron by 59% in physical terms compared to the previous year – to 1 million 325.275 thousand tons, and by 61.1% in monetary terms – to $638.774 million.
In 2022, Ukraine imported 40 tons of pig iron worth $23 thousand, while in 2021 it imported 185 tons of pig iron worth $226 thousand.
Exports were made mainly to the United States (38.47% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (32.91%), and Turkey (8.12%), while imports were made from Germany (100%).
In January-August this year, Ukraine increased exports of pig iron in physical terms by 6.4% year-on-year to 934.196 thousand tons.
According to statistics released by the State Customs Service (SCS), pig iron exports in monetary terms amounted to $356.293 million in the period under review (down 25.1%).
At the same time, exports were carried out mainly to Poland (63.07% of supplies in monetary terms), Spain (20.66%) and the Czech Republic (7.05%).
In the first eight months of 2023, Ukraine imported 65 tons of pig iron worth $97 thousand from Germany (32.99%) and Brazil (67.01%), while no imports of pig iron were made in June and July.
As reported, in 2022, Ukraine reduced pig iron exports in physical terms by 59% compared to the previous year to 1 million 325.275 thousand tons, and in monetary terms by 61.1% to $638.774 million.
In 2022, Ukraine imported 40 tons of pig iron worth $23 thousand, while in 2021 it imported 185 tons of pig iron worth $226 thousand.
Exports were made mainly to the United States (38.47% of supplies in monetary terms), Poland (32.91%), and Turkey (8.12%), while imports were made from Germany (100%).
