Metinvest continues production, shipments despite war in Ukraine

Metinvest’s enterprises in Zaporizhzhia, Kamianske, Pokrovsk and Kryvyi Rih continue to produce and ship products to Ukrainian and foreign customers at different capacity utilisation levels, Kallanish notes.

The Pokrovske Coal unit, Unisteel, the Ingulets, Northern and Central GOKs, Kametsteel and Zaporizhstal all continue to work at different utilisation levels, based on safety, logistical and economic factors, Metinvest says.

However, output at Avdiivka has been halted because of the hostilities. Due to the occupation of Mariupol by Russia, the group cannot continue production at its entities there – Azovstal, Ilyich Steelworks, Mariupol Machining and Repair Plant, and the Mariupol branch of Metinvest-Promservice.

“Control over them [Mariupol units] and production can be restored only if the occupation ends and the city is returned to the Ukrainian government,” Metinvest says. “In addition, a detailed review of the technical condition of the Group’s assets in Mariupol and appropriate repair work will be necessary. Labour relations with employees of these enterprises are regulated and they have been offered employment options at other Group enterprises, particularly in Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Kamianske and Pokrovsk.”

According to the enterprise, the fight against theft by Russia, which is trying to ship 234,000 tonnes of Metinvest’s steel from Mariupol, is ongoing. “The Group has been making every effort to end the piracy and bring those responsible and their accomplices to justice,” it adds.

At the same time, the warehouses and distribution centres of Metinvest in Ukraine and other European countries still have steel products made by the group’s enterprises in Mariupol before the invasion began on 24 February. These products, with appropriate labelling and documentation, are available for sale, Metinvest points out.

Earlier, Metinvest chief executive Yuri Ryzhenkov said the firm is operating at 30-50% of its pre-war capacity (see Kallanish passim). The company also filed claims at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Russia for damages caused by Russia to its property and possessions in Ukraine.

Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria