The production of steel mills owned by the second largest nickel miner in the Philippines has been blocked due to the epidemic.

SMM10, March 22: Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc, the second largest nickel ore producer in the Philippines, said that due to the impact of the epidemic, the construction of a $50 million rebar rolling mill was postponed from this year to the first quarter of 2021. The company says its commercial operations will start in 2022 and is expected to produce 600000 tons of rebar a year.

To support the operation of the steel mill, Global Ferronickel acquired a stake in Seasia Nectar Port Services Inc40%, the port operator of the port of Batan, to ensure stable port services in terms of raw material imports.

The president of the company said that he had planned to start construction this year, but some foreign technical experts were unable to enter the Philippines because of the novel coronavirus epidemic. It had previously revealed that the project would process billets imported from China into steel bars.