ArcelorMittal considering suspension of Lazaro Cardenas slab plant in Mexico
ArcelorMittal is considering a partial suspension of operations at its Lázaro Cárdenas division in Mexico. Company in an emailed statement said “ArcelorMittal Lázaro Cárdenas is considering a temporary idling of certain steel producing operations.”
It added "However, we are still in discussions with various stakeholders and no official decision has been made. Any idling decision will not impact our ability to meet customer demand. Further updates will be given in due course.”
The stoppage is expected to impact certain operations at ArcelorMittal Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico's biggest steel producer and slab exporter, which is located adjacent to Lázaro Cárdenas port in Michoacán state.
Local news website El Diario, citing information from Agencia Reforma, reported that “Up to 8,500 jobs and a further 5,000 indirect positions are under threat as a result of the planned suspension.”
El Diario report also said that the slab plant could start an indefinite technical stoppage immediately, in an attempt to put pressure on Mexico's federal government to do more to limit the large volumes of steel entering Mexico from other countries.
The Lázaro Cárdenas facilities include
1. A 4 million tonne pelletizing plant
2. A 2.3 million tonnes HYL DRI plant
3. A 1.5 million tonne DRI Midrex plant
4. Four 220 tonne electric arc furnaces - 5.3 million tonne liquid steel
5. Two 220 tonne ladle furnaces
6. Vacuum degassing
7. Two twin strand continuous slab casters
8. A thermal power station.
Source - Strategic Research Institute