Brazil steelmaker Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) has confirmed the shutdown of a blast furnace at its Presidente Vargas mill in the city of Volta Redonda, in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
According to the company, on Sunday morning it idled its No. 2 blast furnace, which will remain shutdown for maintenance for 90 days.
The equipment accounts for 30 percent of the company’s 5.6 million mt output. A media report said 250 people worked at the idled furnace. Since the equipment is shutdown, some people are expected to work at the company’s No. 3 blast furnace, while other employees will work in the maintenance of the No. 2 equipment.
A media reported said CSN will not likely lay off more people, since it has agreed with a local union to preserve existing jobs and interrupt the massive layoffs, after dismissing 700 workers.