The Bolivian iron ore and steel complex El Mutún (ESM) announced that the first rebars and wire rods were produced as part of the final tests of the complex.
The event was classified by ESM CEO, Jorge Alvarado Rivas, as the start of the age of steel production in Bolivia.
“With the start of operations, the different plants of the complex are also having their final tests, as we are already obtaining the products”, Alvarado said, adding that the production will start at low pace until reaching a pace of 5,000 mt per month, when sales will start.
When at full capacity, El Mutún will produce 200,000 mt per year of rebar and wire rod, sufficient to reduce the steel imports by half in the country.
Covering a production chain from iron ore mining to rolling operations, CSN has plants of iron ore concentration, pelletizing, direct reduction (DRI), steel conversion, and rolling, supported by an energy center and ancillary services units.
