ArcelorMittal Poland (AMP) has begun the restart of blast furnace no.3, as it prepares to shut down BF2 ahead of its long-awaited maintenance planned for March, Kallanish notes.
AMP idled BF3 at the end of September due to deteriorating demand. It then pushed back its restart beyond December because European demand did not improve and the firm said order books remained below the level required to run two BFs.
In early October, trade unions signed an agreement with the steelmaker that guaranteed BF3 will be restarted again in future and there will be no job losses as a result of the stoppage. BF3 was to be restarted no later than when BF2 begins the shutdown process to carry out its maintenance. AMP management also confirmed it will strive to maintain the operation of both blast furnaces.
In late December, AMP contracted suppliers to carry out maintenance on the slag granulation units at BF2, which is scheduled for completion by September 2023. It also ordered the repair of its Zdzieszowice coke plant boiler and gas tank.
Adam Smith Poland
