UrBC, Magnitogorsk, April 29, 2020. Director-General at Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works (MMK) Pavel Shilyayev commented on the priority investment projects that the company has to focus on in time of Covid-related restrictions.

According to MMK’s Information & PR Department, the current pandemic has meant the company had do look carefully into its plans, assess its possibilities, and decide on the priority minimum of retooling projects that must be completed in the nearest future.

‘The decision was made to focus on two large production facilities that were on the company’s investment program for the year. The projects in question are upgrading Blast Furnace 2 and finishing the reconstruction of hot-roll Mill 2500 at Sheet-Rolling Department 4. The finishing train is currently being assembled at Mill 2500; the plan is to start the hot tests in early July. Also, Blast Furnace 2, where the metal structures are being put in place at the moment, is also expected to re-launch at the beginning of July. As for the rest of our projects, it was decided to postpone everything until things change for the better, Covid-wise and economy-wise, and until after the restrictions have been lifted,’ Shilyayev says.