JFE Steel to Restart No.3 Blast Furnace in West Japan Iron Works

JFE Steel will restart no.3 blast furnace in Fukuyama area of West Japan iron works on May 14th. The works has suspended No.3 blast furnace for maintenance and expansion since January 2011. JFE Steel hadn’t announced the restarting schedule initially but, on Monday, the firm revealed the recommencement of No.3 blast furnace with an expectation that West Japan iron works’ crude steel output could keep 20 million tonnes per year.

The furnace’s capacity will increase to 4,300 cubic meters from previous 3,223 cubic meters. The production capacity of pig iron will increase by about 1 million tonnes per year. West Japan iron works’ crude steel output capacity will total 23 million tonnes with 7 blast furnaces under operation in Fukuyama area and Kurashiki area. JFE Steel’s non-consolidated crude steel capacity will reach 33 million tonnes.

Crude steel production of West Japan iron works could sustain approximately 20 million tonnes in fiscal 2010 ended in March 2011 though domestic steel users such as automakers decreased output after Japan Earthquake. JFE Steel forecasts the works would maintain 20-million-tonne annual production level for April-June 2011.