The Ukrainian steel producer Industrial Union of Donbass (ISD) has inaugurated the first oxygen converter at its
flats producing subsidiary Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works (Alchevsk).
The new converter has an annual
production capacity of between 2.5 and three million metric tons of crude steel and cost UAH 5 billion ($992 million).
The supply and installation of all equipment for the converter was carried out by
Austria-based Siemens-VAI.
The new oxygen converter was constructed in the shortest possible time - just 18 months, and is part of a new oxygen converter workshop which will have two oxygen converters with a total annual crude steel
production capacity of between 5.5 and six million metric tons.
The second oxygen converter will be completed and put into operation by the second quarter of 2008.