The Ukrainian steelmaker ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih, a subsidiary of steel giant ArcelorMittal, has recommissioned its blast furnace (BF) No. 9, which, due to the reduction in the producer's output, had been idled since November 7 last year for repair works.
As a result of the repair works, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih aims to reduce the consumption of natural gas or to completely exclude the use of natural gas at its BF No. 9. In addition, the restart of its BF No. 9 will allow the plant to idle its BF No. 8 for a scheduled overhaul and its BF No. 7 for capital repair.
According to ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih's general director Jean Jouet, the plant is to maintain its pig iron output almost at the same level as in previous months, i.e. about 400,000 mt, and to increase the BF's No. 9 output in case of necessity.
In January-June 2009, ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih produced 2.114 million mt of finished steel - down 38.7 percent, 2.293 million mt of crude steel - down 41.5 percent, 2.025 million mt of pig iron - down 41.7 percent, and 3.661 million mt of agglomerate - down 36.4 percent, all compared to the first six months of 2008.