The Russian steel producer Evraz Group plans to supply its North American pipe producing mills with up to 400,000 mt of slabs per year produced at its Russia-based subsidiary Nizhny Tagil Iron and Steel Works (NTMK), the Russian information agency Prime-TASS reports citing vice president of Evraz's Urals division, Dmitry Sotnikov.
According to Mr. Sotnikov, currently NTMK has almost finished developing the manufacture of slabs for the oil and gas pipe producing industry according to standards set by the American Petroleum Institute (API). "At the end of 2009 we plan to produce the first big commercial batch of about 25,000 mt of slabs to be used for re-rolling at our American mills. Eventually we plan on reaching the level of 300,000-400,000 mt per year," Mr. Sotnikov stated.
In addition, by 2010 Evraz also plans to finish the reconstruction of NTMK's rail wheel production facility, which will allow it to strengthen its position in the Russian domestic market and to receive good premises for export deliveries, the company announced in its statement.
Currently, NTMK is carrying out the second stage of the modernization program for the heat treatment section at its rail wheel production facility, following which its capacities will increase from 416,000 to 580,000 wheels per year, and it will also be able to produce more than 50,000 mt tires with increased hardness.