ArcelorMittal Temirtau, the Kazakhstan-based subsidiary of steel giant ArcelorMittal, has announced that it has signed a contract with Turkish plantmaker CVS for the supply and installation of its first continuous square billet caster for long steel production.
Accordingly, the new six-strand continuous billet caster will allow ArcelorMittal Temirtau to increase its production capacity from four to five million mt of steel per year, to satisfy the needs in billet of its long product rolling shop, and in the future to enable it to expand its product range by producing quality long products such as rebar, angles, channels and T-sections. "In addition, the company will become the most competitive supplier in Kazakhstan, as our pig iron is cheaper than any other produced in electric furnaces," company CEO Frank Pannier said.
Previously ArcelorMittal Temirtau purchased billets from Ukraine and Russia. In November 2009, the company secured supplies of 8,000-9,000 mt of billet per year from Kazakh-based Vtorprom; however, this is not enough to enable its long product rolling shop to operate at full capacity (400,000 mt of longs per year).
Thus, by constructing its own concaster, with construction planned to be completed within 12 months, and by achieving full production capacity at its long product rolling shop, ArcelorMittal Temirtau will not only satisfy the domestic demand for long steel, but will also allow Kazakhstan to reduce the imports of these important products for the construction industry.
The construction of the new concaster as well as the repair and upgrades of blast furnaces planned for 2010-2011 are a part of ArcelorMittal Temirtau's plan to increase its production capacity to six million mt per year, with the eventual aim of reaching ten million mt annual capacity in the future by commissioning new production facilities.