PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih is completing the preparation stage of Continuous Casting Machines (CCM) 2 and 3 construction, the work of which will enable to significantly increase production of cast billets. In the frames of the large-scale investment program of the plant the company will invest over $100 million in construction of two new CCMs.
In January, at initial stages of the project, the concept was defined; design documentation was developed and approved. The contractors to perform civil works, manufacture and installation of steel structures were selected and also the supplier of core process equipment was selected – SMS Group company. Currently, the preparation of construction site is coming to completion, that includes reconstruction of slip road from Centralnyi overbridge, construction of new ingot storage to replace the existing one subject to dismantling, construction of railway tracks, new spare parts and materials warehouse for all CCMs of the plant, as well as dismantling and relocation of existing buildings and utilities.
PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih will start construction work of the main stage soon in parallel with selection and training of personnel. In Q3 2018 the company plans to start hot tests of CCM-3 equipment, 3 months afterwards PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih intends to produce first billets at CCM-2. The final commissioning of the complex is planned for Q1 2019.
Currently, PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih has one CCM in operation. In terms of quality, cast billets outperform hot rolled billets; and owing to high yield ratio and energy saving, the cast billets production cost is less. New CCMs will differ from the existing one by their wider product range (apart from 150×150 mm billets, they will produce 130×130 mm billets), and higher production rate (each – 1.4 million ton per year vs. 1.2 million tons by existing machine).
The construction and commissioning of the first CCM at PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih with capacity of 1.2 million tons per year was one of the key investment projects according to the Sales and Purchase Agreement of the plant. The construction of the first continuous casting division was completed 5 years ago. In 2016 PJSC ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih produced 1 million 163 thousand 533 tons of steel ingots at its CCM. This was the record figure for CCM of the plant and one of the best results within the whole ArcelorMittal corporation among CCMs producing ingot for long products. (AMKR/Ukrainian metal)