Nippon Steel to upgrade no. 2 blast furnace at Oita
Major Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel is planning to allocate up to Yen 30 billion (approximately $252 million) for the maintenance of its No.2 blast furnace at Oita steel mill in its mid-term plan in April. Upon the maintenance completion the current 12'500mt/day
pig iron capacity of the blast furnace is expected to increase by certain amount. Nippon Steel is planning to complete the upgrade process of the furnace in about 90 days, which is expected to begin in January 2004.