The Russian steel producer Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has announced that it is carrying out repair works at the main equipment at its blast furnace shop.
Accordingly, MMK is currently completing the repair of its blast furnace (BF) No. 4, which includes the replacement of the furnace's agglomerate screens, in order to increase the screening efficiency and to improve the sifting of fines from agglomerate.
In addition, after capital repair MMK has recently started its BF No. 8, which was idled in October 2008. Seven BFs are operating at MMK's BF shop, guaranteeing the fulfillment of the plant's production target for June of about 700,000 mt of pig iron.
Currently, only BF No. 1 is idled at MMK; capital repair work is continuing at this BF. The recommissioning of BF No. 1 is scheduled for November 2009, together with the restart of its coke oven battery No. 3.