Severstal Cherepovets, the main steel producing facility of Severstal Russian Steel, has delivered a trial batch of steel plates in the amount of 450 mt, manufactured at its mill 5000 to UK-based welded steel tubes producer Corus Tubes, a division of Tata Steel's European steelmaking subsidiary Corus. The plates of 38 mm thickness are to be used for the production of oil and gas pipeline tubes.
According to Severstal Russian Steel's CEO Anatoly Kruchinin, Severstal Cherepovets is supplying the plates within the framework of its program for the development of cooperation with pipemaking companies, and for gaining experience for plate production, needed for Severstal's future pipe projects.
"Currently, the production volumes for this sector are being ramped up. In the second half of 2009, the capacity utilization level of the mill 5000 will be doubled compared to the first half of the year," Mr. Anatoly Kruchinin stated at the ceremony of output of Severstal's 100,000th large diameter (LD) pipe.
Severstal is supplying LD pipes for the construction of Yamal-Europe and Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok natural gas pipelines. Meanwhile, the company has submitted its application for LD pipe supply tender for the construction of Nord Stream gas pipeline, and also expects to deliver LD pipes for Gazprom's pipeline within Shtokman project.