Sumitomo Metals to Restart No.1 Blast Furnace in Kashima on Friday

Sumitomo Metal Industries would restart no.1 blast furnace in Kashima iron works on March 25th. The firm has already restarted no.3 blast furnace on March 20th. Japanese steel makers’ seven blast furnaces in East Japan will return to operations after temporary suspension due to Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake.

After the earthquake on March 11th, Nippon Steel suspended 3 blast furnaces in Kimitsu iron works and JFE Steel suspended 2 blast furnaces in East Japan iron works (one in Keihin area and the other in Chiba area). Sumitomo Metals suspended 2 blast furnaces in Kashima iron works. Four Blast furnaces in Kimitsu and Keihin area restarted on March 13th and one in Chiba area on March 14th.

Japanese integrated steels will start supply of steel products for after-quake repairs and reconstructions. Nippon Steel will restart product shipment at all iron works except for Kamaishi, utilizing alternate distributing lines, in order to meet various demand from users such for users’ alternate production.

Nippon Steel already started supports for Sumitomo Metals, to supply equipment, manpower and materials required for repair of Kashima iron works. Some of steel users restarted operations after temporary down after the quake. Nippon Steel discharges responsibility of steel supply in total cooperation with group companies.

East Japan iron works of JFE Steel is under regulated operation to save electric power consumption while tries to supply steel products for reconstruction support despite of crippled distribution and few transporting fuels. Users are offering shaped steel for temporary houses, sheet pile, steel pipe pile, plate or sheet.