Zaporizhstal has allocated UAH 1.2 billion to maintain its facilities since 2022

Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works has allocated more than UAH 1.2 billion to maintain its production facilities during the full-scale war in Ukraine. This is stated in a press release by Metinvest.Media.

In 2023, investments in projects to maintain the stability and reliability of the company’s main technological facilities are estimated at UAH 750 million. This is half as much as in 2022, when the company invested UAH 500 million.

«Statistics can best tell us how the full-scale invasion affected Zaporizhstal’s operations. The plant’s production figures for 2021 – 4.4 million tons of iron, 3.7 million tons of steel and 3.2 million tons of rolled products – are comparable to the total production volumes for two years: 2022 and 2023, respectively. Despite the partial utilization of production capacities, blackouts and terror on the part of the aggressor country, we continue to implement an investment program to maintain equipment reliability, operate steadily and strengthen the national economy on the way to Victory,» said Roman Slobodianiuk, CEO of Zaporizhstal.

Key projects to upgrade equipment have been implemented in the sintering and blast furnace division of the plant. In particular, the repair of sinter machines at the sinter plant, as well as technological maintenance and full support of gas cleaning systems by professional services to ensure the design indicators for the treatment of waste gases: from dust to 30 mg/m3, for sulfur dioxide – below 400 mg/m3.

Blast Furnace No. 3 was overhauled in the blast furnace shop. The production life and design characteristics of the unit were restored, and the efficiency of production and environmental equipment was improved. Air heaters No. 9 and 12, which operate in conjunction with the plant’s blast furnaces, were overhauled.

The specialists of Zaporizhstal performed a comprehensive repair of the equipment of the hot rolling shop: in addition to rolling mills, the equipment of tick cranes and method furnaces was updated. The mechanical, power and electrical equipment of the main rolling mills at the production site was updated.

A number of projects have also been implemented to ensure sustainable operation and increase the production life of power equipment and infrastructure facilities, improve the safety of the production process for personnel, digitalize, etc.

In 2024, Zaporizhstal plans to implement a capital investment program totaling about UAH 1 billion. The program is aimed at maintaining and modernizing equipment, implementing functional programs for occupational health and safety, information technology, social sphere, etc.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in 2023, Zaporizhstal increased output by 50.6% compared to 2022, to 7.24 million tons. In particular, the plant produced:

• pig iron – 2.72 million tons (+35.3% y/y);
• steel – 2.47 million tons (+65.4%);
• rolled goods – 2.05 million tons (+57.2%).

Enemy shelling and destruction, interruptions in the supply of raw materials and energy resources, disruption of logistics routes due to the blocking of seaports led to a reduction in Zaporizhstal’s production performance compared to pre-war performance. In particular, in 2021, the plant produced 4.5 million tons of pig iron, 3.8 million tons of steel, and 3.2 million tons of rolled steel. During 2023, the plant operated at an average of 70% of its capacity.