Japan: Nippon Steel Nisshin to Suspend Blast Furnace No.2 at Kure Works

Nippon Steel Nisshin Co., Ltd. has decided to conduct banking of the No. 2 blast furnace at the Kure works around mid-Feb’20 and to focus on production of the No. 1 furnace, in order to improve production efficiency and further stabilize blast furnace operation. The reason for this is that both blast furnaces were operating at a low utilization rate due to a fire accident at the Kure Works in Aug’19, in addition to the deteriorating environment for steel demand.

Company via press release informed yesterday, Nippon Steel Corporation will provide technical assistance concerning the banking method and flexibly supply iron sources, namely, slabs and hot coils, to Nippon Steel Nisshin. This will enable Nippon Steel Nisshin to continue supplying the same products as at present.

The second blast furnace to be shut off in operation in Nov’03 has a furnace volume of 2,080 cubic meters. The tapping capacity of the two blast furnaces 270,000 MT pm, and the current operating rate is 75%. Banking will be carried out in second blast furnace, and the operating rate of the first blast furnace will be significantly increased, and the operating rate is expected to be 60%.

Nippon Steel and Nippon Steel Nisshin are scheduled to merge in Apr’20 and to be operated in an integrated manner to ensure the best interests of the Nippon Steel Group.