The Ukrainian flat steel producer Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) is carrying out preparations for a second category overhaul of its blast furnace (BF) No. 3, which is scheduled to commence in early March 2011 and finish within 42 days.
Ilyich's BF No. 3 has operated for eight years after the overhaul carried out in 2003, when its working volume was increased from 1,719 to 2,000 cubic meters and when its production capacity was increased to 3,400 mt of pig iron per day. Before the current overhaul, the capacity of the furnace had decreased, and so the purpose of the repair is to improve technology of the furnace and to increase its production capacity by 1,200 mt of pig iron per day.