For the first time during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, “Zaporizhstal” Steel Works, a joint venture of the Metinvest Group, is taking blast furnace No. 2 out of forced hot preservation.
From now on, “Zaporizhstal” blast furnace shop will operate with three blast furnaces.
“Since last March, blast furnace No. 2 has been in hot preservation mode. The launch of the blast furnace was preceded by thorough work on ensuring production with sufficient volumes of raw materials. Today, we have such a solution that will allow us to increase production, at the same time – to increase deductions to state budgets and to attract foreign exchange earnings to the national economy”, said Roman Slobodyaniuk, General Director of PJSC “Zaporizhstal”.
In April 2022, after a period of hot preservation of production facilities, “Zaporizhstal” put into operation two blast furnaces – No. 3 and No. 4. During the period of forced hot preservation of BF-2, specialists of the blast furnace shop and engineering services of “Zaporizhstal” carried out comprehensive research, maintenance and repair of the main units of the blast furnace. In particular, a deep revision of the mechanical and electrical equipment of the blast furnace and its air heaters was carried out, a technical inspection and testing of the gas cleaning equipment of the blast furnace was carried out to ensure the reliability of the unit’s operation in accordance with the current environmental protection legislation.
Now BF-2 is being blown up. The blast furnace will already reach its planned production capacity in the first decade of April. The complex of three blast furnaces will increase the daily productivity of “Zaporizhstal” blast furnace shop to more than 8 000 tons of cast iron.
Let us recall you that blast furnace No. 2 was taken out for hot conservation last March during the forced shutdown of the enterprise due to the escalation of military activities in the region.