Metinvest on track to expand slab casting capacity

Ukraine’s largest steelmaker Metinvest (METINV) plans
to start hot trials of its new continuous casting machine No. 4 (2.5 mmt p.a.
of slabs, a USD 150 mln investment) at Ilyich Steel, according to an Oct. 30
report by Metal Expert, an industry consultancy. Metinvest plans to commission
the machine in 2019, Metal Expert said.

Dmytro Khoroshun: Metinvest reported earlier that the
commissioning of the new machine will increase Ilyich Steel’s slab casting
capacity to 4 mmt p.a. However, the crude steel capacity of Ilyich Steel’s
oxygen converters amounts to only 3.1 mmt p.a., according to Metinvest’s 2018
prospectus. So there are concerns that Metinvest might experience ecological
problems when it tries to squeeze 4 mmt p.a. of steel from Ilyich Steel
converters, similar to the issues it has experienced with Azovstal’s
converter shop from time to time. Nevertheless,
Metinvest being on schedule with this important investment project is positive.