Salzgitter expects to become the exclusive owner of Duisburg-based mill Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann (HKM) by June, Salzgitter’s ceo Gunnar Groebler has said during its annual results conference, attended by Kallanish.
Earlier this year, thyssenkrupp Steel and Salzgitter announced an agreement that also involves HKM’s third co-owner, Vallourec.
Groebler notes that talks are proceeding positively, and that while some approvals from antitrust authorities will still have to come, he had no reason to expect the process to take beyond May.
HKM produces slab but has no rolling facility. Groebler expects the mill will become an important supplier of slab to the European market to fill the gap of expiring supplies from Russia. He points out that HKM slabs will also be used for steels for the defence sector, where Salzgitter is stepping up activities.
Regarding the plan of a technical transition of HKM, Groebler says this is projected to be realised in a matter of three years. “This is an ambitious timetable,” he says, adding that it is based on a three-year plan for public subsidies. Talks between HKM and technical suppliers are currently ongoing, he says.
Meanwhile, HKM will launch an intermediate reline of one of its blast furnaces in May that will last throughout the summer.
