Brazilian flats steelmaker Usiminas said on Monday it resumed production at its No. 1 and No. 2 blast furnaces at its Ipatinga mill, following a blast last week. The company also resumed operations at its cold rolling mill, Unigal Usiminas unit and dispatch area.
The Ipatinga mill is located in the city of same name in the state of Minas Gerais. HDG producer Unigal Usiminas is a joint venture between Usiminas (70 percent) and Nippon Steel (30 percent).
Usiminas on Friday halted production at its Ipatinga mill as a “precautionary” measure, following the incident at the steelmaker’s gas works. Usiminas forecasted to resume heavy plate output at its Ipatinga mill on Tuesday. Hot strip production should resume on Thursday, the company said, while the mill’s No. 3 blast furnace should resume on August 15.
Usiminas said it made a “rigorous” audit of the remaining three gas work units, as the incident hit just one gas work unit. The company said it couldn’t estimate losses, but said it had insurance for the affected gas work units.