BlueScope to expand Indonesian operations

BlueScope to expand Indonesian operations

Australian flat steel producer BlueScope Steel Limited construct second metallic coating and painting lines at its Cilegon facilities near Jakarta, Indonesia, as part of the company's aim to increase its market share in Asia. Not only will new lines be added, but existing facilities will also be improved as part of the project. The capacity of the existing metal coating line will be increased by 35'000 metric tons to 135'000 metric tons, and the total metal coating capacity will reach 305'000 metric tons with the new line. As for the painting, the capacity of the current line will be increased from 50'000 metric tons to 70'000 metric tons, and the new line will add 55'000 metric tons to bring the total capacity to 125'000 metric tons. The new metallic coating line will process thinner gauge (0.2 - 0.4 mm) coil while the existing metallic coating line processes 0.4 - 1.0 mm coil. The project is estimated to cost A$145 million ($106.32 million), and the new lines are expected to be operational by early 2008. The company had also commissioned its second metal coating line in Thailand in August.