Ukrainian steel producer Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) has stopped the converter No. 2 at its oxygen-converter shop for repair works.
The repairs in question, expected to cost UAH 60 million (about $7.9 million), include the total replacement of the second converter and of the waste heat boiler.
The first melting at the new converter is scheduled for June 20-21, 2009.
In January-April 2009, Ilyich registered a 52.9 percent reduction in its finished steel products output, a 49 percent drop in its crude steel production and a 44.6 percent decline in its pig iron output - all compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The respective figures in metric tons were 864,000 mt 1.213 million and 1.033 million.