Izhstal, a subsidiary of the Russian mining and steel producing company Mechel, is preparing to shut down its open hearth shop No. 21, and to switch completely to use of electric arc furnaces (EAF) in its steel production.
The complete switch from open hearth furnaces (OHF) will be carried out within the framework of Izhstal's large-scale technical reequipment program directed towards the reconstruction and modernization of the plant's production capacities. Within this scope, Izhstal is currently installing at its electrosmelting shop No. 23 a new continuous billet caster with an annual capacity of 300,000 mt, as well as the equipment used for steel treatment outside the blast furnace.
The commissioning of the new steelmaking facilities is scheduled for December 2009.
Until the start of operations at its new electrosmelting shop, Izhstal is to maintain its delivery levels by operating its electrosmelting facilities and by acquiring billets from another Mechel subsidiary, Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant.