ArcelorMittal Zenica completes €30 million blast furnace reconstruction

ArcelorMittal Zenica, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, has completed a €30 million project to rebuild the blast furnace and upgrade other areas of the factory, including the energy, sinter and steel plants and the rolling mill.

The latest projects are bringing the total invested in the Zenica plant to over €200 million. The refurbishment means that integrated steel production can continue in Zenica for up to 20 years into the future.

The project’s completion was marked with a ceremony in the heart of the steelworks, attended by over 200 guests, including Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fadil Novalic and Miralem Galijasevic, Prime Minister of Zenica-Doboj Canton. Augustine Kochuparampil and Lutz Bandusch attended on behalf of ArcelorMittal Europe.

Addressing the guests, Federal Prime Minister Novalic commented: “This is a step that will guarantee competitiveness in a very turbulent steel market. Directly or indirectly, 12,000 people depend on this company, which is beyond doubt the biggest company in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

The CEO of ArcelorMittal Zenica, Biju Nair underlined the importance of the project to the city’s future: “We will continue to invest in the infrastructure of the factory, bringing further improvements in our ecological performance and our production capability.

“At the same time, we will continue to support, develop and encourage the young managers, engineers and production staff who will write the next chapter in the story of steel in Zenica.”

The lead contractor responsible for project delivery was the specialist Dutch company, Danieli Corus, supported by many local contractors.