Ukrainian steel producer Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) has restarted operations at its reconstructed blast furnace (BF) No. 5, following positive signs of recovery and the increase in order numbers, which have resulted in "all the conditions for a stable level of production in 2010," Ilyich CEO Vladimir Boyko said.
By restarting operations at its BF No. 5 with an annual capacity of 1.57 million mt, Ilyich plans to achieve an output of 13,500-13,800 mt of pig iron per day by December 12-13, operating a total of five BFs. As of December 7 this year, the daily output of Ilyich's BF shop amounted to 11,301 mt.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, Ilyich's BF No. 5 was idled for reconstruction in November 2008. As a result of the reconstruction, the volume of the BF No. 5 was increased from 2,300 m3 to 2,500 m3.