Zapsib constructs caster in order to export slabs

Zapsib constructs caster in order to export slabs

West-Siberian Metallurgical Combine also known as ZapSib, operating under the ownership of Evrazholding together with Nizhny Tagil has plans to construct a slab caster with a 1.8 million ton per annum production capacity. The new caster with two strands will be built by VAI at Novokuznetsk in the last quarter of this year. The construction is expected to last for more than two years and upon completion of same, ZapSib will be ready to start slab exports. The initiation of slab exports by the company are scheduled for 2007, the earliest. The project will require an investment of $100 million, also including a ladle furnace. The company is also planning to build continuous billet casters with an annual capacity of 1 million tons each. The estimated cost of this project is around $80 million, however exact figures will be clarified once the tender is completed. Company authorities stated that Italian steel equipment maker Danieli has recently completed the construction of 8-strand continuous billet caster which started a few years ago. This caster has an annual capacity of 1.3 million tons. These projects are prepared under Evrazholding's seven year programme of closing down decrepit plants and converting all mills to continuous casting.