According to local media reports, Essar Steel Algoma will close its plate and strip operations for maintenance next week. As a result, 300-330 employees will be temporarily laid off.
“In light of continued weakness in the plate market, we are taking a maintenance shutdown of our plate and strip complex next week,” Brenda Stenta, the company's manager of corporate communications, told local newspaper SooToday.
The company is also reportedly addressing technical problems at its No. 7 blast furnace. “We are flexing production levels on the furnace as we work through some technical issues,” Stenta said. “We have a team of ironmaking experts on site working to ensure optimal performance from the furnace going forward.”
The company is also reportedly addressing technical problems at its No. 7 blast furnace. “We are flexing production levels on the furnace as we work through some technical issues,” Stenta said. “We have a team of ironmaking experts on site working to ensure optimal performance from the furnace going forward.”
Despite the maintenance-related idle next week, the company will continue to ship steel “and service our customers accordingly.”