NLMK Clabecq to restart production next week

NLMK Clabecq’s plate re-rolling plant in Belgium is expected to restart production from the beginning of next week. This follows an agreement between the unions and the management of the Sogepa, the state-owned company controlling 49% of the NLMK Belgian units.

Following the announcement by the management of NLMK of the intention to cut half the workforce at NLMK Clabecq, workers began demonstrations, affecting the plant’s activities since the beginning of February.

Earlier this week an agreement with Sogepa was reached, securing the restart of production at the mill next week. The unions will also allow the procedure to negotiate the reduction of the workforce to continue, Kallanish understands.

Similar blockades were implemented at the near-by coil plant of NLMK La Louviere earlier in February, but these were lifted with the help of the police and the authorities.

NLMK Clabecq can produce up to 750,000 tonnes/year of plates in a thickness range of 3-120mm.