Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works (Zaporizhstal) is taking its blast furnace (BF) No. 2 out of forced hot mothballing and will now operate three blast furnaces for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“BF No. 2 has been in hot mothballing mode since March of last year. The commissioning of the blast furnace was preceded by thorough work to ensure sufficient production with raw materials. Today we have such a solution, which will allow to increase production, and together with this to increase deductions to state budgets and attraction of currency proceeds to the national economy”, – convinced the general director of Zaporizhstal Roman Slobodyanyuk, who is quoted by the press service.
At the same time it is reminded that in April 2022 Zaporizhstal put two blast furnaces #3 and #4 into operation after the period of hot shutdown of production facilities. During the period of forced hot shutdown of BF No.2 the specialists of Blast Furnace Shop and Engineering Services of Zaporizhstal performed a comprehensive study, maintenance and repair of the main units of the blast furnace. In particular, deep revision of mechanical and electrical equipment of the blast furnace and its air heaters has been performed, technical inspection and testing of gas cleaning equipment of the blast furnace has been carried out to ensure reliability of the unit operation in accordance with the current environmental protection legislation.
Blast furnace BF-2 is currently being blown out. The blast furnace will reach its planned production capacity in the first decade of April. By adding three blast furnaces, the daily productivity of Zaporizhstal Blast Furnace Shop will increase up to 8000 tons of iron.
Blast Furnace No.2 was taken out for hot shutdown in March 2022, as part of the forced shutdown of the enterprise due to the escalation of hostilities in the region.
As it was reported, in 2M2023 “Zaporizhstal” reduced shipment of rolled steel by 65.3%, compared to the same period last year – up to 174.2 thousand tons, steel output during this period decreased by 67.4% – to 209.2 thousand tons, iron – by 61.5%, to 291.6 thousand tons.
“Zaporizhstal” in 2022 reduced the output of rolled steel by 60.4% compared to 2021 – to 1 million 304.3 thousand tons, steel by 61.7% – to 1 million 491.3 thousand tons, cast iron – by 54.3%, to 2 million 9.9 thousand tons.
“Zaporizhstal is one of the biggest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, which products are in great demand among the consumers on the internal market and in many countries of the world. The plant specializes in high-quality carbon and low-alloy steel coils, hot-rolled plates, cold-rolled sheets, cold-rolled coils, as well as steel straps, tin plates, formed sections.
Main consumers are producers of welded pipes, enterprises of automotive, transport, agricultural engineering, producers of household appliances.
“Zaporizhstal is in the process of integration into Metinvest Group the main shareholders of which are CJSC “System Capital Management” (71.24%) and Smart Holding group of companies (23.76%).
Metinvest Holding LLC is the management company of Metinvest Group.
