Severstal announced details of its 2017 capital investment program, which highlighted its operational excellence and long-term competitiveness.
In 2017 Severstal plans to invest approximately 43 billion rubles across the business. This investment will primarily focus on developing key areas of the company’s strategy including cost control, increasing production of high-value added products and enhancing safety and customer care.
Approximately 26 billion rubles will be invested into the Severstal Russian Steel division in 2017. 12.1 billion rubles of this will be invested in development projects including the construction of a new coating line and ladle furnace number 2 at the Cherepovets Iron and Steel Works. 1.7 billion rubles of this will be invested in IT and digital projects aimed at further operational and customer service improvements.
13.9 billion rubles will be invested in maintenance, environmental and health and safety projects.
Approximately 17 billion rubles will be invested into the Severstal Resources division in 2017. 8.4 billion rubles of this will be invested in development of the assets. One of the most significant projects at the division is the implementation of a new multi-functional safety system at Vorkutaugol mines. This will enable the company to locate staff and equipment across the mines in real-time and improve the monitoring and control of gas emissions. The company will also continue investing in improving the stripping works.
In 2017, 8.6 billion rubles will be invested in the maintenance of Severstal’s coal and iron ore operations.
Alexey Kulichenko, CFO of Severstal, commented: “With continuously rising competition on the global market there is a much higher demand to increase the speed and flexibility of operational processes, as well as pressure to improve customer service. That is why we are focused on initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and customer care, including through our IT and digital offering. Safety remains our priority and it will continue to be a key area of Severstal’s investment. In 2017 we plan to finalize two major investment projects: construction of the new coating line and ladle furnace number 2 at the Cherepovets Works. At the same time Severstal maintains its balanced approach to capital expenditure and a strategy which is flexible to market conditions.”
The planned investments are preliminary estimates and amounts could be adjusted dependent on FX changes. The majority of the company’s expenditure in 2017 will be in rubles. (Metalinfo/Ukrainian metal)
