Ukraine's state-owned railway company Ukrzaliznytsya has until the end of the current week banned deliveries of goods to ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih, Ukraine-based subsidiary of the world's largest integrated metals and mining company ArcelorMittal, due to the alleged systematic delays by the steelmaker in the unloading of wagons, local newspaper Delo has reported.
According to Ukrzaliznytsya, about 3,200 train wagons are currently concentrated on the premises of ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih. Meanwhile, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih has said that such delays have been caused by adverse weather conditions which have made it difficult to unload wagons carrying coking coal. In addition, the acceptable content of moisture in coal is ten percent; however, in Ukrainian coal the level is 12-14 percent, which increases the time required to defrost the coal.
The ban by the railway company has only worsened the situation at the steel plant, as due to the halting of deliveries of goods, imports of coking coal from Russia and of coke from Poland are now also under threat, which may lead to the failure of the steelmaker to implement its February production plan.