On May 25, Azovstal Iron and Steel Works, a subsidiary of Ukraine's largest vertically-integrated mining and steel group Metinvest, will end steel production using the open-hearth furnace method. Furthermore, Azovstal will produce steel at two converters with a total capacity of 2 million mt per year.
Meanwhile, Metinvest plans to terminate open-hearth steel production at Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol within five years.
According to domestic industry experts, the switch from obsolete technologies will enhance the competitiveness of Ukrainian steel in foreign markets.