ArcelorMittal, the world's largest integrated metals and mining company, has announced its intention to invest $1.6 billion in its long carbon steel operations in Brazil, in addition to the previously announced $1.2 billion in investments for the expansion of the Monlevade plant in Minas Gerais.
According to the company release, the investments will allow ArcelorMittal to expand its annual crude steel production capacity in the long carbon sector in Brazil by an additional 2.6 million mt, from 3.9 million mt up to 6.5 million mt.
The expansion program is expected to be completed within 30 months.
Within the scope of the investments, ArcelorMittal is to construct two new blast furnaces, with a total capacity of 400,000 mt per year, two electric arc furnaces, with annual capacities of 1.2 million mt and 800,000 mt respectively, a ladle furnace, two new continuous casters, a rebar mill with a capacity of 520,000 mt per year, a merchant bar quality/special bar quality mill with capacity of 500,000 mt per year to produce special bars for the automotive industry, and a structural mill with a capacity of 650,000 mt per year for the production of medium/heavy structural sections.
The final location for these new investments will be announced after the conclusion of feasibility studies which are presently underway.
Moreover, ArcelorMittal has commenced its expansion programe in Monlevade, which includes the installation of a new sinter plant with a capacity of 4 million mt per year, a blast furnace with a capacity of 1.5 million mt per year, a simultaneous BOF Blowing, a continuous caster with a capacity of 1.2 million mt per year, and a wire rod mill with a capacity of 500,000 mt per year.
The Monlevade expansion program is also planned to be completed within 30 months.