Posted on 30 Mar 2023
ArcelorMittal says it has completed the operation to empty blast furnace A at the Gijón plant, in northern Spain, after the fire that occurred at the facility on 22 March, Kallanish learns from the company.
Pig iron production was affected following the incident (see Kallanish passim).
“Once the pig iron and slag have been removed, the operators will continue with the cleaning work over the next few days before proceeding with the damage assessment,” an ArcelorMittal spokesperson explains. The steel company was already able to verify the perforation of the crucible. Gijón’s BF B remains operational.
“The assessment of the damage is being carried by the Group’s technical department and experts from our other plants that have had similar accidents in the past,” ArcelorMittal confirms.
Gijón’s blast furnace A, whose useful life was scheduled until 2025, resumed pig iron production on 7 February after being idled last September due to the uncertain economic scenario and poor market conditions.
Gijón's two blast furnaces have a combined annual capacity to produce 4.7 million tonnes of pig iron.
Source:Kallanish
