Liberty Steel is confirming the restart of crude steelmaking at its plant in Galati, Romania, following the relaunch of operations at the blast furnace number 5, Kallanish learns from the company.
The output at the furnace will be ramped up during the next weeks. The furnace was temporary idled in autumn last year and brought steelmaking to a halt at Liberty’s European unit after other blast furnaces stoppages in Czech Republic and Hungary implemented in 2023.
Following the restart in Galati, Liberty is planning to resume rolling operations at its lines in Romania, Czech Republic and Hungary. The company explains that there is good demand at the moment for heavy plates and hot rolled coils.
“Despite the difficult European market conditions, Liberty Galati has managed to overcome a range of challenges over the last few months and has restarted its primary production – which will benefit its business as well as the rest of the Liberty’s other major European sites,” says Theuns Victor, ceo of Liberty’s European upstream businesses. “We do expect the improved market conditions this year to give Europe a much-needed boost and to provide some momentum to our operations.”
Emanuele Norsa Italy
