The Brazilian steel and iron ore producer, CSN, started a prescheduled stoppage for maintenance and revamping of its blast furnace number two (BF-02) at the Volta Redonda plant, located in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The works are expected to conclude in 2025, at a cost estimated at $260 million, increasing the useful life of the equipment by eight years.
With the temporary stoppage of BF-02, which has a pig iron production capacity of 1.5 million mt per year, it is expected the company will increase its acquisitions of slabs to feed its rolling operations from Ternium or from ArcelorMittal Pecem, its domestic alternatives, or from imports.
The Volta Redonda plant has a pig iron production capacity of 5.08 million mt per year.
