ArcelorMittal plans to idle blast furnace in Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland
21 Oct 2011
ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, is planning to temporarily close a blast furnace at its plant in Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland, due to weak demand in Europe.
The move from the Luxemburg-based steelmaker comes a week after it said that it will permanently close its liquid phase steel production at its site in the eastern Belgium city of Liège. (See: ArcelorMittal to permanently shut Liège steel plant in Belgium)
"There is no decision yet as to furnace No 3 in Dabrowa Gornicza, but we do not exclude such a scenario because of the market situation," Reuters today reported quoting ArcelorMittal's Poland spokeswoman Sylwia Winiarek as saying.
ArcelorMittal is the largest steel producer in Poland, employing more than 10 000 people in six plants located in Silesia and Malopolska. After investing around PLN 4 billion between 2004-2010, ArcelorMittal Poland has become one of the most modern steel producers in Europe.
The company produces long products such as sections including sheet piles, rails and railway accessories, as well as mining supports used in construction, railway transport and mining industry. It also produces flat products used in the automotive and appliance industries.
The Dabrowa Gornicza plant was started in 1976 and produces continuous casting lines steel. It also boasts of a converter gas recovery plant.