Alchevsk Iron and Steel Works (Alchevsk), the subsidiary of the Ukrainian steel producer Industrial Union of Donbass (ISD), plans by February 20, 2010 to restart operation of two of its blast furnaces, which were stopped during the crisis due to the shortage of raw materials, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency has reported citing plant CEO Taras Shevchenko.
"By February 20, we plan to reach full capacity," Mr. Shevchenko said, adding that iron ore deliveries to Alchevsk have resumed, while shipments of coke will start up shortly.
Currently, Alchevsk is operating two of its four blast furnaces.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, in 2009 Alchevsk decreased its crude steel output by 16.4 percent to about 3.64 million mt, saw its finished steel production fall by 15.7 percent to 3.32 million mt and saw its pig iron production decline by 14.3 percent to 3.235 million mt, all compared to 2008.