Mittal Steel Ostrava issues 2006 production data

Mittal Steel's Czech subsidiary, Mittal Steel Ostava, produced more than three million metric tons of steel products and 3.063 million metric tons of crude steel in 2006. Commenting on the figures, company CEO and Chairman of the BoD, Mr. Gregor Munstermann, stated that Mittal Steel Ostrava was able to achieve impressive results in 2006 due to a favorable situation in the steel market and due to increased demand for the company's products. Also speaking in relation to the production figures, Mittal Steel Ostrava COO and Vice-Chairman of the BoD, Mr. Josef Buryan, said that in 2006 the company was able to increase its tubes and pipes production, its long products output, mainly in the medium and fine section mills, as well as its production of mine support and foundry products. In addition, in early January Mittal Steel Ostrava renewed production at its Heavy Section Mill after successful reconstruction work. The mill was reconstructed as a part of a plan to restructure the Czech steel industry to meet European Union (EU) requirements, as specified in the accession treaty between the Czech Republic and the EU. The main aims of the reconstruction were to reduce the Heavy Section Mill capacity by half, to reduce the ecological burden on the environment, and to improve the quality of existing products in line with EU standards.