Ukraine-based steelmaker ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih has announced that the investigation department of the Security Service of Ukraine has performed a search on the company’s continuous casting machine No. 3 in Dnipropetrovsk region on July 20 and the equipment has been halted.
According to a company statement, a complex of new CCM-2 and 3, with a total capacity of 2.8 million mt, is one of the key investment projects of the company, which cost comprises about $150 million. Halting of CCM-3 makes continuation of construction in correspondence to the modernization program impossible and inflicts damage directly on ArcelorMittal. ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih does not have any possibility to continue construction, modernization, to plan production of products and to conclude contracts for the supply of billets to the clients. It is not clear what will be the duration of inspection of CCM-3 and documents performed by the Security Service of Ukraine.
Previously the company said that its production facilities work in accordance with the approved environmental standards without exceeding the emissions norms stipulated by the state.