Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works of Zaporizhzhia has overhauled continuous pickling unit (CPU) No. 4 in the Cold Rolling Shop (CRS) to avoid production downtime.
According to the company’s press release on Tuesday, Metinvest Promservice specialists and rolling mill operators replaced a number of parts of the unit. The repair also included replacing the drive axle of the trolley at the coil preparation area before it is fed to the BTA-4 line.
“An important effect of this repair is preventive maintenance of the equipment, prevention of unit downtime and ensuring stable operation,” the company said in a statement.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
Metinvest Group’s Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works has modernized the transfer trolleys between the departments of its Cold Rolling Shop (CRS), allocating UAH 2 million for this purpose.
According to the company, the upgrade took four months to complete, and the transportation of rolled products from one department of the Cold Rolling Shop to another has become safer and more efficient.
It is specified that the trolleys were replaced with more modern electrical equipment, additional warning beacons, as well as optical and radiation sensors were installed.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
“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-June this year, Zaporizhzhia-based Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works increased its rolled steel output by 46.1% year-on-year to 1 million 233.5 thousand tons from 844.2 thousand tons.
According to the company’s information on Tuesday, steel production during this period increased by 45.9% to 1 million 486.4 thousand tons, and pig iron by 33.3% to 1 million 527.3 thousand tons.
In June, Zaporizhstal produced 237 thousand tons of iron, 236.7 thousand tons of steel, and shipped 183 thousand tons of rolled products.
As reported, in 2023, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel output by 57.2% compared to 2022, to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel by 65.4%, to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron by 35.3%, to 2 million 718.9 thousand tons.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries of the world.
“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.
Metinvest Group’s Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works has overhauled the third stage of blast furnace No. 4.
“Our fourth blast furnace has been renovated and is fully ready for operation, waiting for the first pig iron after the repair,” the company said in a statement.
It is specified that as part of the overhaul, a new charging machine was installed, the casting yard, air heaters and cleaning units were updated.
As reported, the overhaul was implemented as part of the plant’s investment program, with a total estimate of more than UAH 92 million.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works will save UAH 1.6 million by implementing one of its rationalization proposals in the sinter shop for the use of used equipment.
According to the company, Zaporizhstal employees continue to generate effective rationalization ideas and implement them in production, receiving additional remuneration for this, and the company receives additional savings.
“This time we are talking about the Proposal Submission System (PSS) in the sinter shop. Here, specialists have found a solution to save money on the production of bandages for coke oven rolls. Instead of purchasing billets for their production, the sinter plant proposed to use the used backup rolls of the BTS-1680 continuous thin-sheet mill in the hot strip mill shop. One such roll will replace two billets,” the company explains.
According to preliminary estimates, the savings will amount to more than UAH 1.6 million per year.
Another press release reports that Zaporizhstal has purchased 20 modern breathing protective apparatus for specialists working in gas-hazardous work areas, as well as a device for testing breathing apparatus. The company allocated about UAH 6 million for these purposes.
It is specified that DEZEGA’s P-30EX compressed oxygen isolating regenerative respirators will provide comfortable and safe working conditions for gas rescue specialists. This is the lightest and most reliable breathing protective apparatus certified by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and compliant with European standards.
Twenty sets of modern breathing apparatus will replace the previous generation of protective equipment and ensure safe work in gas-hazardous areas of the sinter and blast furnace processing and other units.
The breathing apparatuses provide autonomous operation for up to four hours and are equipped with signaling devices. To check the serviceability of the new breathing apparatus, the plant purchased an additional modern DEZEGA CheckUp device. The device is connected to the apparatus and automatically checks the technical condition of the protective equipment. The results of a thorough check of the breathing apparatus are displayed on the station’s electronic display, and in case of deviations from the norm or the slightest malfunctions, the devices are serviced or calibrated to the design parameters.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, whose products are in great demand among consumers both in the domestic market and in many countries around the world.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group, whose major shareholders are System Capital Management (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
In 2022-2023, Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group invested UAH 23 billion in the modernization of Kametstal and Zaporizhstal steel plants and the green transformation of the enterprises.
Metinvest’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Oleksandr Myronenko, said during the discussion “The largest wartime investors: a look into the future” at the Forbes Ukraine forum “Money for Victory” that the company’s priority areas for investment in 2024-2025 are employees, equipment and assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“We have three key priorities. The first is our employees. The second is equipment and production sites. And the third is to support the Armed Forces. Especially in the cities where our enterprises are located. These are Zaporizhzhia and Pokrovsk, located 40 kilometers from the front line. We must support the units that defend these cities,” said Mr. Myronenko.
He added that the company’s employees are paid an increased bonus, which reaches 20-50% of their salary, and that starting May 1, salaries were increased by up to 20% depending on their specialty.
Metinvest’s COO noted that in 2024, the company plans to invest $320 million in capital and about $350 million in operating investments in equipment and work sites.
“These are investments aimed at maintaining our equipment: repairs of blast furnaces and sintering machines, maintenance of equipment at mining and processing plants and development of mine management in Pokrovsk,” explained the top manager.
According to him, the company is currently operating at 65%-70% of its capacity. “And we clearly understand that when the hostilities end and the infrastructure is fully restored, we will need to accelerate – at the expense of people and equipment,” he said.
Mironenko added that the company has already allocated more than UAH 6 billion for humanitarian and military support to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war. And now Metinvest is allocating about UAH 200 million a month to build fortifications and support brigades from Dnipro to Donetsk.
“We have a clear strategy for the development of Ukrainian and foreign enterprises. Now it is very difficult to persuade banks to finance any projects in Ukraine. We estimate the full transition of Ukrainian enterprises to green metallurgy within 10 years after the end of the war at about $9 billion,” the COO said.
He also said that the company would not be able to implement such a project on its own and would need to attract external financing. Since this option is currently not possible, Metinvest is considering a joint project with Danieli to build a steel plant in Italy, with an estimated investment of about $2 billion.
“The Ukrainian economy will benefit from the implementation of such a project. We will be producing energy-efficient green steel at a very low cost because we have our own resource – iron ore in Kryvyi Rih. From this point of view, we believe that the Ukrainian-Italian joint venture will be much more efficient than a European-only production facility and will be able to compete with European producers,” said Mr. Myronenko.
Metinvest’s COO also noted that the company’s operations are currently being negatively affected by the mobilization of personnel, as one in six employees is serving in the Armed Forces. “This is a big challenge in relations with the government. And it has a bigger impact on our operations than any commercial disputes,” the top manager stated.
He also emphasized that Metinvest buys equipment, drones, electronic warfare devices, etc. for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There are also two proprietary developments that the group has already codified and certified with the Ministry of Defense and will now begin official deliveries. These are corrugated steel shelters and mine trawls that are installed on tanks.
The SSO clarified that the shelters produced by Metinvest are half the price of those currently purchased by the country, and the situation with mine trawls is about the same.
“The second thing we do is to make anti-submarine shelters for equipment. For example, Abrams, which are now fighting in the Donetsk sector, will be completely covered with our anti-water nets, and this will enhance their protection. We are also developing and already installing such shelters on Soviet-made T-64 and T-72 tanks. And there are many other things we are doing to make our soldiers feel protected,” summarized Mr. Myronenko.
“Metinvest is a vertically integrated group of steel and mining companies. Its enterprises are located in Ukraine – in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions, as well as in Europe.
The main shareholders of the holding are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%), which jointly manage it. Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
METINVEST, MODERNIZE, steel plants, ZAPORIZHSTAL, Каметсталь
