Russian steel mill Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has announced the recommissioning of its blast furnace (BF) No. 7, with a capacity of 3,200 mt of pig iron per day, which was idled in autumn 2008 for overhauling work and was kept in reserve due to low demand.
In the context of rising demand, MMK has decided to restart operations at earlier decommissioned units, including those at its blast furnace shop, in order to increase production output. In February the company has restarted two of its blast furnaces - BF No. 2 and BF No. 7.
Currently, MMK is operating six of its eight BFs. In addition, MMK plans to recommission its BF No. 8 at the beginning of March.