Russian steel producer Ashinskiy Metallurgical Works (Ashinskiy) has recommissioned its third open hearth furnace, which has a capacity of 20,000 mt of steel per month. Operations at the furnace in question had been stopped in autumn 2008 due to lack of demand.
Accordingly, in March 2009, following the receipt of new orders at its flat rolling shop No. 1, Ashinskiy is to operate all its three open hearth furnaces at its open hearth shop and plans to increase its crude steel output to 62,000 mt from 43,508 mt in February 2009.
In addition, in March Ashinskiy plans to raise its production of plate to 50,000 mt from 32,693 mt in the previous month. Deliveries of plate to the Russian domestic market are expected to be increased to 27,000 mt from 19,015 mt in February. Meanwhile, the mill's plate exports to non-CIS countries are planned to be raised to 17,000 mt, compared to 12,028 mt shipped in February, and the plate exports to near abroad countries are to be increased to 2,000 mt compared to 1,650 mt in previous month.