China’s Wuhan Iron and Steel (Wisco) and Echeng Iron and Steel, also in Wuhan, have resumed production, government agency Metallurgical News said on March 25. Both plants are owned by the country’s Baowu Group.
The capacity utilization rate for Wisco is 100pc and Echeng has hit 90pc.
All 546 subsidiary companies of the Baowu Group have resumed work, Metallurgical News added.
Hubei is an important production and operations base for Baowu in China.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in January, Baowu has now been able to evaluate units in Hubei for the first time.
Blast-furnaces in Hubei province are operating normally, however, electric arc furnaces are still shut down.
A press release on Baowu’s website states that blast furnaces at Wisco and Echeng remained operational during the COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan, and both provided 400mt and 200mt of steel, respectively, for construction of a hospital for COVID-19 treatment.