By KYIV. Nov 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Zaporizhstal Metallurgical Plant has developed an action plan to transfer the plant to reduced parameters for using electricity during the energy crisis in the country, including reorienting production to commercial cast iron.
The company recalled that on the eve of the heating season, in just two days, as a result of massive missile attacks by Russian troops on thermal power plants, substations and grids, about 40% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure was damaged. In order to maintain the country’s critical power supply and repair damaged power equipment, the government has called on the public and businesses to reduce power consumption, especially during peak hours from 7:00 to 22:00, which will allow restoration work to be completed.
"For the first time, Ukraine faced energy terror and, as a result, a shortage of capacities in the energy system. The call to reduce energy consumption was addressed to every Ukrainian and every Ukrainian business. The plant did not stand aside: we reformatted the operating mode, took additional measures in order to support the country," emphasized general director of Zaporizhstal Oleksandr Myronenko, who is quoted by the press service, urging the rest to also support the country’s energy system.
Considering the situation, Zaporizhstal quickly developed a plan to reduce consumption of purchased electricity in conditions of active production. Guided by a number of factors (criticality of equipment operation, its total power consumption as well as load on the grid, and technical features of the connection), the company has determined a list of production facilities that can operate at reduced parameters during the peak period. The production configuration was also changed and reoriented to production of commercial cast iron. In this regard, the mode of operation of energy-intensive rolling mills 1150 and 1680 of the hot rolling shop, mills and units of the cold rolling shop has been revised.
A further decision on the mode of operation of production units will be made in accordance with the current situation on energy supply in the city and the region, according to a press release from the company.
Zaporizhstal is one of the largest industrial enterprises in Ukraine, the products of which are in great demand among consumers in the internal market and in many countries of the world. The plant specializes in high quality hot-rolled steel, hot-rolled sheet, cold-rolled sheet, cold-rolled coil of carbon and low-alloy steels, as well as steel tape, black sheet, and a bent profile.
