Zaporizhzhia-based Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works is blowing up blast furnace No. 2 after a short-term third-degree overhaul.
According to the company on Wednesday, the overhaul lasted around the clock for six days. BF-2 will be blown up until the end of this week. The plant allocated more than UAH 85 million to upgrade the blast furnace.
“The specialists of Zaporizhstal’s blast furnace shop and engineering service, together with the specialists of Metinvest-Promservice and Zaporozhogneupor, have fully completed the planned work on the second blast furnace upgrade. The overhaul was preceded by a thorough preparatory stage, which made it possible to reduce the repair time by a day,” said Roman Slobodianiuk, CEO of the enterprise.
In total, about 200 specialists from the plant and contractors worked at the site. The main works performed include replacement of the backfill machine, repair of the foundry equipment, hydraulic and lubrication systems, repair of metal structures and railways of the bunker overpass, as well as maintenance of the aspiration systems of the production unit.
The main goal of the BF-2 overhaul is to increase equipment reliability and sustainability of the blast furnace production process and improve product quality, the press release explains.
It is also reminded that during the full-scale war, Zaporizhstal allocated more than UAH 1.2 billion to upgrade production equipment and treatment facilities operating at the complex. The main focus was on maintaining and upgrading equipment to ensure its reliable operation in unforeseen conditions.
As reported earlier, in January-April 2024, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled steel output by 59.1% compared to the same period in 2023, up to 844.8 thousand tons from 530.9 thousand tons, steel by 56.1%, to 1 million 9.3 thousand tons, and pig iron by 46.5%, to 1 million 50.4 thousand tons.
“In 2023, Zaporizhstal increased its rolled products output by 57.2% compared to 2022, up to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel by 65.4%, up to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron by 35.3%, up 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.
In January-April of this year, Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works increased its rolled steel output by 59.1% year-on-year to 844.8 thousand tons from 530.9 thousand tons.
According to the company, steel production during this period increased by 56.1% to 1 million 9.3 thousand tons, and pig iron production by 46.5% to 1 million 50.4 thousand tons.
In April, Zaporizhstal produced 265 thousand tons of iron, 278.4 thousand tons of steel, and 229.4 thousand tons of rolled products.
As reported earlier, 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.
Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works intends to implement a number of measures to improve the quality of rolled metal products in the near future.
According to the company, Zaporizhstal hosted Metinvest’s Customer Focus Conference, where representatives of the company’s relevant departments and enterprises discussed projects to improve the quality of steel products.
“Zaporizhstal was not chosen as a venue for the conference by chance, as today the plant is one of the key metal producers in Ukraine. In fact, by the end of 2023, every second ton of Ukrainian steel was produced at Zaporizhstal. This demonstrates the scale and role of the enterprise for the national mining and metals industry, but at the same time requires even greater responsibility from Zaporizhzhia steelmakers in terms of quality and customer focus,” the company said in a statement.
It is also specified that the conference resulted in a number of applied solutions to achieve and maintain consistently high quality of Zaporizhstal’s rolled steel products, which will be implemented in the near future.
As reported, Zaporizhstal has spent over UAH 1.2 billion since the start of the full-scale invasion to upgrade production equipment and wastewater treatment facilities at the complex. At the same time, in 2023, the plant invested UAH 750 million in projects to maintain the stability and reliability of the company’s main technological facilities, which is half as much as in 2022, with an investment volume of UAH 500 million.
During the full-scale invasion, the program focused on maintaining and updating equipment to ensure its reliable operation in unforeseen conditions.
In 2024, Zaporizhstal plans to implement a capital investment program totaling about one billion hryvnias. The program is aimed at maintaining and modernizing equipment, implementing functional programs for occupational health and safety, information technology, and social sphere.
“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 PrJSC (71.24%) and Smart Holding Group (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works has invested more than UAH 1.2 billion to upgrade production equipment and treatment facilities at the complex.
According to the company, in 2023, the plant invested UAH 750 million in projects to maintain the stability and reliability of the company’s main technological facilities, which is half the amount of UAH 500 million invested in 2022.
At the same time, it is stated that the full-scale invasion had a negative impact on Zaporizhstal’s operations: the plant’s production figures for 2021 – 4.4 million tons of iron, 3.7 million tons of steel, and 3.2 million tons of rolled products – are comparable to the total production volumes for two years: 2022 and 2023, respectively.
“Despite the partial utilization of production capacities, blackouts and terror on the part of the aggressor country, we continue to implement the investment program to maintain equipment reliability, operate steadily and strengthen the national economy on the way to Victory,” said Roman Slobodianiuk, CEO of Zaporizhstal.
During the full-scale invasion, the program focused on maintaining and updating equipment to ensure its reliable operation in unforeseen conditions. Key equipment upgrade projects were implemented in the sintering and blast furnace division of the plant. In particular, the repair of sinter machines at the sinter plant, as well as technological maintenance and full support of gas cleaning systems by professional services to ensure that the design indicators for the purification of waste gases are achieved: from dust to 30 mg/cubic meter, and for sulfur dioxide – below 400 mg/cubic meter.
Blast Furnace No. 3 was overhauled in the blast furnace shop. The production life and design characteristics of the unit were restored, and the efficiency of production and environmental equipment was improved. Air heaters No. 9 and 12, which operate in conjunction with the plant’s blast furnaces, were overhauled.
Zaporizhstal specialists performed a comprehensive overhaul of the hot rolling shop equipment: in addition to rolling mills, the equipment of tick cranes and method furnaces was updated. The mechanical, power and electrical equipment of the main rolling mills at the production site was updated.
In addition, a number of projects have been implemented to ensure sustainable operation and increase the production life of power equipment and infrastructure facilities, improve the safety of the production process for personnel, digitalize, etc.
In 2024, Zaporizhstal plans to implement a capital investment program totaling about UAH 1 billion. The program is aimed at maintaining and modernizing equipment, implementing functional programs for occupational health and safety, information technology, and social sphere.
“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-March of this year, Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works increased its rolled steel output by 88.9% year-on-year to 615.3 thousand tons from 325.7 thousand tons.
According to the company, steel production during this period increased by 85.7% to 731 thousand tons, and pig iron production by 61.8% to 785.4 thousand tons.
In March, Zaporizhstal produced 273.1 thousand tons of iron, 260 thousand tons of steel, and 219.4 thousand tons of rolled products.
As reported earlier, 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.
Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works has completed the first stage of the overhaul of blast furnace No. 3.
According to the company, the repairs were carried out by Metinvest-Promservice specialists.
It is specified that the main task of this stage for the repairmen was to replace the upper gas shut-off valve. It equalizes the pressure between the receiving hopper and the furnace, and it is very important to replace it in a timely manner to ensure that the loading process is safe and uninterrupted.
“The blast furnace is currently operating stably, and meanwhile, specialists are preparing for the second stage of the overhaul, which will begin in April,” the press release states.
As reported earlier, Zaporizhstal doubled its rolled steel output in two months compared to the same period last year, up to 395.3 thousand tons from 196 thousand tons, steel output by 2.25 times to 471.1 thousand tons, and pig iron output by 75.7% to 512.3 thousand tons.
In 2023, the steel plant increased its rolled products output by 57.2% compared to 2022, up to 2 million 54.7 thousand tons, steel by 65.4%, up to 2 million 466.9 thousand tons, and pig iron by 35.3%, up 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.
