Sumitomo Metals to Renew Upper Stream Operations in Wakayama

Sumitomo Metal Industries tries to establish the new upper stream operation and environmental friendly system at Wakayama works. The firm already finished the new no.1 blast furnace plant building and keeps introducing the operation and control system. The firm starts the building of the blast furnace in November. The firm also starts building of new 1A coke oven on September 11 and starts to build 1B oven in April 2008 at Wakayama. The new ovens start the operation along with coke dry quenching system in May 2009 while the firm stops the operation of no.6 oven to reduce the impact on neighbor residence. The firm also expands the sinter plant in the week starting operation in March 2009. With the expansion, the sinter capacity will increase by 40%. The new blast furnace with 3,700 cubic meters of capacity will start operation in June 2009. With the new furnace, Wakayama’s raw steel output increases from current 4.1 million tonnes per year to 4.5 million tonnes.