JFE Steel Starts No.3 BF Expansion at Fukuyama

JFE Steel launched the expansion work of idled No.3 blast furnace at Fukuyama area of West Japan works. The firm increases the inner volume to 4,300 cubic meters from 3,223 cubic meters. The iron making annual capacity increases by around 1 million tonnes. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in May. The firm has completed the steelmaking capacity expansion at Fukuyama in spring of 2010. The firm also increased the capacity of No.6 coke battery at Kurashiki in December. West Japan works finishes a series of expansion when No.3 blast furnace at Fukuyama is completed.

JFE Steel sees crude steel output at West Japan works is around 20 million tonnes in fiscal 2010 ending March 2011. When the market would allow the current production pace through May, the firm restarts No.3 blast furnace at Fukuyama area as soon as the expansion work is completed. With the restart, West Japan works operates all of 7 blast furnaces. With the blast furnace expansion, the raw steel output capacity increases to 23 million tonnes per year at West Japan works, of which 13 million tonnes at Fukuyama, and to 33 million tonnes for JFE Steel.