ArcelorMittal Zenica has finally stopped coke production

The ArcelorMittal Zenica steel plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a subsidiary of global steelmaker ArcelorMittal, has announced the final shutdown of its coke and chemicals division after 42 years of operation. This was reported by local media with reference to the company’s data.

The company has decided to shut down its coke and chemicals division, in part due to financial difficulties and ambitions to reduce its environmental footprint. About 80% of the plant’s emissions were generated by the Coke Plant.

The shutdown of the coke oven battery was carried out in accordance with the procedure and poses no danger to the plant’s employees or local residents.

«After the shutdown of the coke unit, the emissions of the Zenitsa plant will fall to the lowest level since the plant’s history began 132 years ago,» the company said.

The shutdown of the coke oven battery resulted in the loss of about 200 jobs. At the same time, the employees will be provided with jobs in other departments of the plant in Zenica or at the company’s plants in the EU.

Thus, the Zenica steel plant is no longer integrated, as coke will be purchased from external suppliers. ArcelorMittal Zenica says it will continue to reduce its environmental footprint.

As GMK Center reported earlier, ArcelorMittal Zenica announced its intention to close the coke oven battery in early March. The reasons include rising maintenance costs and lower demand for products.

The coke plant in Zenica was opened more than 40 years ago. From 1992 to 2008, the unit was shut down. Over the past 10 years, the company has made significant efforts to modernize and maintain the plant and concluded that further investments are not economically viable as production would not meet high environmental standards.

ArcelorMittal Zenica produces about 700 thousand tons of steel per year and employs 2.2 thousand people. Its main product range includes rebar and coils, wire rod, mesh and grating.