Severstal Cherepovets, the main steel producing facility of Severstal Russian Steel, has announced the temporary shutdown of its blast furnace No.1.
The main reason given for the shutdown were the insufficient loading of the furnace, as well as the need of more rational loads for the plant's BF No.4 and BF No.5.
Severstal Cherepovets' BF No. 1, with 1.1 million mt capacity, in 2008 produced 13 percent of the plant's total output of pig iron. Currently, two blast furnaces are operating at the plant - BFs No. 4 and No. 5, while overhaul work on BF No. 3 is currently continuing.
As a result of the shutdown, some of the 100 workers employed at BF No. 1 will be let go, while the remainder will be transferred to other sections.
Severstal Cherepovets plans to re-launch its BF No. 1 after the stabilization of the market's situation.