Global steel giant ArcelorMittal's subsidiary ArcelorMittal Annaba, which is located in eastern Algeria and employs about 6,000 workers, was shut down on Wednesday, June 13. The steel complex has now seen zero production for the second straight day, according to local media reports. The facility remained in operation during Tuesday despite a group of workers blocking access to the facility in a protest against the dismissal of 18 employees. The protests started after some workers' contracts were suspended for alleged serious misconduct.
ArcelorMittal Annaba has a designed capacity of two million mt of crude steel per year. It is owned 70 percent by ArcelorMittal and 30 percent by the Algerian group Sider.