One of the world's largest producers of merchant pig iron, Russian-based Tulachermet, has halted operations of casting machine No. 1 at its blast furnace shop for a 70-day overhaul.
The overhaul, which is scheduled to begin on April 7, includes the replacement of the casting machine's main equipment.
In 2009 Tulachermet also plans to repair its casting machines No. 3 and No. 5.