JFE Steel Joins Brazil Slab Making Project by Dongkuk Steel, Vale

JFE Steel starts study for 5-6 million tonnes of integrated slab making project in Brazil. The firm joins plan by Dongkuk Steel of South Korea and Vale of Brazil and JFE Steel would lead the project. They would build 2 blast furnaces for 500-600 billion yen starting operation as early as 2011. JFE Steel tries to expand the production base to meet growing demand for high grade steel products. They announced the feasibility study for the project in Pecem, Ceara. Vale and Dongkuk Steel started study for 2.5 million tonnes of slab making works at the site. With JFE Steel’s participation, they study the feasibility for larger operation in a year. With the positive result, they would start operation after around 3-year construction period. The project is to supply slab mainly for Dongkuk Steel and California Steel Industries of USA, which is flat steel making 50/50 joint venture of JFE Steel and Vale.