AMKR suspends steel production amid energy blackout

ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih (AMKR) has critically limited electricity consumption and suspended most production processes due to the latest Russian missile attack on critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, Kallanish notes.

The available amounts of electricity are not enough to support production even at 20% capacity, the enterprise claims.

AMKR has temporarily stopped steel smelting and production of rolled products. Currently, only coke batteries No.5 and No.6 remain in operation. Two more coke batteries – Nos. 3, 4 – and blast furnace No.6 are in hot conservation mode.

106 miners, who remained underground due to a blackout at the mine, were successfully rescued and brought to the surface.

According to the company, it will return to normal operation as soon as specialists succeed in renewing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “We are grateful to these heroes for their round-the-clock efforts and hard work and to our miners and metallurgists for confirming that we have a steel spine, endurance and strong spirit,” AMKR adds.

AMKR decreased coke production in January-September to 432,000 tonnes, down by 80% on-year. In September alone, output of coke was 46,000t.

In October, the company began the process of shutting down coke oven batteries No.1 and No.2 (see Kallanish passim). Earlier, it restarted coke oven batteries No.5 and No.6 after the units were forced to stop due to the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops in February.

The plant had been operating with only with one blast furnace, producing 100,000 tonnes/month of products and operating at 20-25% capacity due to coal shortages. It has been shipping products to the ports of Poland and the Baltic countries, from where they are sent onwards to customers.

Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria