JFE Steel Shifts Steel Production to West Japan against Electricity Regulation

Mr. Hiroshi Oka, managing director of JFE Steel’s West Japan iron works, attended a press conference at the works on Friday and revealed the firm will shift production of some steel products, mainly for export, to West Japan iron works from East Japan iron works at approximately 100,000 tonnes for July-August when electricity supply regulation is scheduled in TEPCO’s service area. The details are now examined.

Mr. Oka said West Japan iron works is under 80-90% operation at present against the capacity at 23 million tonnes per year. The crude steel production is slightly decreasing compared with the pre-earthquake level. Mr. Oka referred to no.3 blast furnace in the works’ Fukuyama area that currently restarted operation. Instead the works stopped no.2 blast furnace in banking state. JFE Steel estimates steel demand would not decline largely due to restorations in disaster areas. The works will increase NO.3 blast furnace’s operating rate to 2 tonnes per cubic meters and per day after 10 days from blowing-in.

No.3 blast furnace adopted copper stave cooler which represents high cooling performance as well as new operating technology to lower reducing compound consumption. JFE Steel aims 33-million-tonne non-consolidated annual crude steel output capacity with total 8 blast furnaces. Mr. Oka suggested integration of blast furnaces almost finished by stoppage of No.2 blast furnace.