The Russian steelmaker Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has announced that in 2010 it plans to increase its coke output by 20 percent year on year to six million mt, and thus to reach its pre-crisis output level.
In this regard, MMK's head of coke production Oleg Shashkov said that, despite the economic difficulties, the company has started the construction of the complex of the 11-bis battery with a capacity of 1.14 million mt of coke per year, and is continuing the capital repairs of its third coke battery, both carried out within the framework of MMK's program for the reconstruction of its production facilities.
Meanwhile, in April 2010 MMK plans to commission its fourth coke battery, which is currently being kept heated after capital repairs.
MMK commenced production of coke at the end of 1931 and up to the present has produced 400 million mt of coke. In 2009, MMK produced about five million mt of coke.