Brazilian CST to invite bids for its third blast furnace
Spokesman of Companhia Siderurgica de Tubaro (CST), world's largest slab maker, announced that they have started to invite bids for the construction of a third blast furnace for the purpose to increase the crude steel production capacity in order to meet demand from international markets as well as the domestic markets. In case the project gets approval from the shareholders, depending on prices and offers from potential suppliers, the new blast furnace will increase Espirito Santo-based CST's production capacity by 50%, bringing the annual crude steel production to 7.5 million mts. The company stated that they are planning to launch production in first quarter of 2006.