Kazakhstan's biggest iron ore producer Sokolov-Sarbai Mining Production Association (SSGPO), a subsidiary of mining group Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Plc. (ENRC), plans to commission its new steel rolling mill in July 2010. Construction on the new rolling mill, located in Rudniy in the northern Kazakh region of Kostanay, started in 2008. The mill's first production line will be put into operation in September 2009.
SSGPO's new rolling mill, the project for which will cost a total of Tenge 7.82 billion (approx. $51.9 million), will have a capacity of 75,000 mt of steel products per year, including 25,900 mt of grinding balls, 7,800 mt of rods, and 41,200 mt of light section steel products and rebar.
The supplier of the mill's main equipment is Chinese metallurgical and engineering company Sinosteel Equipment & Engineering Co., Ltd.