Algerian Qatari Steel (AQS) is proceeding with its production integration process. The company plans to start hot trials at its second electric arc furnace (EAF) and continuous casting machine (CCM) within the next week, each capable of producing 1.1 million mt of crude steel and square billet, respectively. The first steelmaking complex of the same capacity was launched by AQS at the end of November last year. Currently, the company is utilizing its crude steel and billet production capacity at a rather high rate, SteelOrbis understands.
For now, the company is using steel scrap and import hot briquetted iron (HBI): however, it expects to launch its own direct reduced iron (DRI) production at its 2.5 million mt per year facility by May this year. According to sources, the cold tests have already been handled at the module.
