Steel News Roundup

SHANGHAI, Dec 14 (SMM) — This is a roundup of news in the steel industry for last week.

Baosteel to add 2 more 5050m³ blast furnaces for Zhanjiang key steel project by July 2021

Baosteel is making efforts to ensure that the No. 3 blast furnace system project of Zhanjiang Iron and Steel will be completed and put into operation in July 2021. The steelmaker also plans to commence construction of the No. 4 and No. 5 blast furnace system projects in July next year. This will two 5,050 m³ blast furnaces and three 300 mt converters, which will increase its ironmaking and steelmaking capacity by 8.04 million mt and 9 million mt respectively. It will also accelerate the expansion of its thick plates, hot-rolled sheets, cold-rolled sheets, galvanized sheets, colour-coated sheets, electrical steel capacity to form the Zhanjiang steel base that has a total steel capacity of 21 million mt, including 1 million mt of ultra-high-strength steel. By 2025, the output value of the steel base will reach 100 billion yuan.

Coal mines in Chongqing halted operations due to accident in defunct Diaoshuidong mine

Recently a serious accident occurred in Diaoshuidong coal mine in Chongqing, and a city-wide video and telephone conference on work safety and social stability was held in Chongqing.

It was revealed that a fire was triggered by improper dismantling of underground equipment at the defunct Diaoshuidong coal mine, leading carbon monoxide poisoning. Chongqing will carry out in-depth investigation and rectification on hidden dangers in coal mines, and strictly regulate the closed down mines in rectification.

Since December 5, all coal mines in the city have halted production and are not allowed to carry out underground operations.  At the same time, supervision on coal mine safety has been enhanced.

Approval of Tangyin Iron and Steel's relocation project

Tangyin Iron and Steel has secured approval to relocate to Caofeidian. After relocation, it will build two 1500 m³ blast furnaces, two 100 mt converters, two 265 m² belt-type sintering machines, and one 1.2 million mt rotary kiln. After the project is completed, it is expected to produce 5.3 million mt of qualified sintered ore, 1.2 million mt of qualified pellets, 2.52 million mt of qualified molten iron, 2 million mt of qualified molten steel, and 2.6 million mt of qualified finished steel products. The output deficit of 600,000 mt of finished steel products be solved by outsourcing billets.

China Baowu and GW Holdings Group to establish joint-venture

China Baowu and Guangdong GW Holdings Group have jointly established Baowu Group Zhongnan Iron and Steel, with China Baowu holding 51% of the stake and Guangdong GW Holdings Group holding 49%. This m blast furnace steel making process to electric furnace process and take a green and low-carbon route.

Hebei approved new steel projects

• Qian'an Jiujiang Wire will build two 2.4 million mt/year grate-rotary kiln production lines, with a total pellet production capacity of 4.8 million mt.
• Hebei Xinwu'an Iron and Steel Group Xinhui Metallurgical has shut down blast furnace steel production capacity, including one 10 m² shaft furnace, two 130 m² sintering machines, one 1080 m³ blast furnace and one 460 m³ blast furnace. These will be replaced by one 110 mt electric furnace and one 100 mt electric furnace with new capacity same as closed capacity.

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