Severstal Cherepovets, the main steel producing facility of Severstal Russian Steel, has announced the commencement of installation of basic equipment in the framework of the previously announced investment program for reconstruction of its continuous hot dip galvanizing line, linked to its cold rolled sheet production facility.
The installation works of the first stage of the reconstruction program got underway on September 29 this year, and are scheduled to be finished in the first quarter of 2009. All necessary equipment will be supplied by Belgian company CMI Industry.
The second stage of the hot dip galvanizing line's reconstruction is planned for June-July 2009. In the third stage of the project, the HDG line will be stopped for 45 days for the reconstruction of the annealing furnace.
The reconstructed HDG line is scheduled to commence operations in December 2009.
The project, worth Ruble 2 billion (approx. $76 million) is in line with Severstal's goal to double the line's capacity to 400,000 metric tons and to expand its product range.