ArcelorMittal Temirtau, the Kazakhstan-based subsidiary of steel giant ArcelorMittal, has announced that on December 2 it temporarily switched three blast furnaces to slow mode following an accident in the power supply system and a gas-pipeline explosion, which killed one worker.
ArcelorMittal Temirtau also halted convectors, steel rolling shops, and other equipment. Details of the accident's effect on production have not been disclosed.
Subsequently, the plant's blast furnace No.1 was switched back to normal operations, while shops and all units are expected to be switched to normal operations soon.
Two electricity generators at the plant stopped yesterday, leading to a drop in pressure in one of the gas pipes feeding the furnaces. The explosion occurred when the gas feed resumed.