Třinecké železárny resumed operation of blast furnace No. 4 after modernization

Czech steel giant Třinecké železárny (TŽ) announced the resumption of operation of blast furnace No. 4 after the completion of reconstruction and medium repairs. The unit was restarted on October 6. The total cost of the project did not exceed CZK 700 million, and the shutdown lasted only 42 days, which is one-third less than the usual duration of such work, according to a press release.

The company’s CEO, Roman Heide, said that the repair was a strategic step to keep the unit running for the next few decades. According to him, the furnace has been modernized in accordance with the requirements of the European “green” course and the strictest environmental standards. He also expressed hope for dialogue with the new government on electricity prices and possible investments in the electric arc furnace.

The furnace was shut down after about 20 years of virtually continuous operation. The main part of the repair involved replacing the most worn refractory materials in the lower part of the unit. This was the first hybrid reconstruction at the enterprise, combining old and new refractory bricks with the filling of the internal space with cast heat-resistant concrete.

At the same time, key technological units were upgraded. In particular, a new central air and gas heating unit was installed, which supplies hot blast with a temperature of up to 1230°C to the furnace. The cooling system, water management, conveyor, and skip loaders for raw materials, distribution networks, control systems, sensors, and analyzers were also updated, and over 50 km of new cables were laid.

Thirty contractors were involved in the work. As Production Director Tomáš Hajdica noted, the repair required careful logistics due to limited space.

The two blast furnaces at Třinecké železárny are the last such units in operation in the Czech Republic. Their operation is ensured by about 120 employees in primary production and another 60 specialists in technical and electrical maintenance. Furnace No. 4 has been in operation since 1923 and produces about 3,200 tons of pig iron per day. In over 100 years, the unit has smelted more than 55 million tons of pig iron.

In 2024, Třinecké železárny increased its steel production to 2.425 million tons, which is 10,000 tons more than a year earlier. Thus, the company confirmed its status as a stable steel producer in Europe despite the difficult economic period, a decline in apparent steel consumption, and falling demand.