Ural Steel increases pig iron output

Metalloinvest spent more than 1 billion roubles on the project, which was aimed at increasing productivity and the quality of the plant’s merchant pig iron. In 2015, Metalloinvest produced 2.5 mln tons and shipped 1.8 mln tons of pig iron.

Andrey Varichev, CEO of Management Company Metalloinvest, commented: “Merchant pig iron is currently an in-demand product. The completion of maintenance works at Blast Furnace #4 ensures the safe operation of the furnace and its components and allows us to increase the production efficiency of our steelmaking units that require hot metal, increase supplies of merchant pig iron and strengthen the Company’s position in the market for high-quality metallised products.”

The major maintenance works at the fourth blast furnace are part of the programme to modernise and develop Ural Steel’s production facilities. Casting Machine #5 is also being commissioned as part of the investment programme. The launch of Blast Furnace #4 and Casting Machine #5 allow the Company to react to market needs more flexibly, depending on current demand.