Steelmaker ArcelorMittal Brazil announced resumption of operations at its Tubarão complex’s blast furnace No. 3 in mid-October, according to media reports.
The blast furnace has an annual capacity of 2.8mn mt and is currently undergoing cleaning and maintenance work.
The company will operate all its three blast furnaces with reduced capacities initially and then gradually reach full optimization of the plant when the demand and consumption increases.
After resuming operations at blast furnace No. 3, the company’s annual capacity will reach nearly 7mt mt as its blast furnace No. 2 with 1.2mn mt annual capacity became operational in July again.
The company said that it would strictly adhere to guidelines and protocols recommended by health authorities to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The company had shut down the operations in March due to the unfavorable economic situation risen by the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.
The company has six plants – Sol, ArcelorMittal Tubarão, ArcelorMittal Vega, ArcelorMittal Brasil, ArcelorMittal Brasil 2, and ArcelorMittal Sul Fluminense – in Brazil.