Rinat Akhmetov and Vadym Novynskyi’s Metinvest Group has decided to resume the operations of some of Zaporizhstal’s shops that have been in hot conservation mode. Metinvest Group’s Zaporizhstal has started blowing in blast furnaces No. 3 and and No. 4. The launch of blast furnace production was attended by the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, the Chairman of the Board of Ukrainian Railways; Oleksandr Kamyshyn; and Ukrainian members of parliament.
“We believe in Ukraine and we know what the state needs today, the revival of the national economy. We are gradually resuming production and doing everything necessary to make it work at full capacity. In Zaporizhia, production processes have already been partially restored at Zaporizhia Coke Plant, Zaporizhvogneupor and the Zaporizhia Casting and Mechanical Plant. Zaporizhstal is also coming back to life. We are ready to work and repel the enemies with our main weapon – peaceful labour,” – said Oleksandr Mironenko, General Director of Zaporizhstal.
According to the roadmap for reopening production, Metinvest Group’s Zaporizhstal partially removed the sinter plant from hot conservation mode. Three of the six sinter machines were launched. In the blast furnace shop, two of the four blast furnaces, blast furnaces No. 3 and No. 4, have been launched in a reduced production mode. Accordingly, along with the restoration of the production process, the dedusting units of the hot end (sinter plant and blast furnaces) were put into operation, which was preceded by a full maintenance procedure for the environmental units.
To ensure the stability of the production process, the transport, energy, engineering and other auxiliary units of the plant are in operation. Gradually, with the production of hot metal by the blast furnaces, the following links in the production chain will be put into operation: the steelmaking furnace, the 1150 slabbing mill, and the rolling mills of the hot and cold rolling shop.
Work shifts for Zaporizhstal employees have been adjusted to take into account the presence of a curfew. Zaporizhstal is providing centralised transportation for workers using company-run transport services. In the event of an emergency, employees at the plant are provided with unhindered access to safe shelters, which are equipped with the necessary provisions, medicines and means of communication.
We would like to remind our readers that, from 2 March, due to the worsening of hostilities in the region, Metinvest Group had switched part of the equipment of Zaporizhstal to hot conservation mode. At the same time, a coordination hub for humanitarian assistance has been set up at the plant for the victims of the hostilities. Volunteers from Metinvest’s enterprises in Zaporizhia receive, package and send humanitarian aid from the Saving Lives Humanitarian Centre, established by Metinvest and DTEK, in coordination with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation, to people affected by the hostilities. Metinvest’s Humanitarian Mission Coordination Center in Zaporizhia is also working to create the right conditions for the reception of internally displaced people from the Ukrainian cities that have been worst impacted by Russia’s military aggression.