Ukrainian iron and steel works Kametstal, a subsidiary of Ukrainian mining and metals group Metinvest, announced the launch of its largest maintenance project in 2026, closing blast furnace No. 1M for a second category overhaul. The furnace has an annual production capacity of 1.53 million tons.
The repair program is aimed at ensuring reliable and stable operation of the blast furnace and maintaining the long-term productivity of the company's blast furnace.
According to Kametstal, the main scope of work includes the replacement of the refractory lining of the blast furnace shaft, hearth and hot blast furnaces, as well as partial renewal of furnace cooling system components. The overhaul also includes a comprehensive upgrade of mechanical, electrical and power equipment. As part of the project, Kametstal will completely replace the blast furnace charging system.
After preparatory work and successful purging of the furnace, repair teams began dismantling the equipment and are preparing to clean the hearth by removing the remaining smelting products.
The company is focused on reliable long-term operation
Evgeniy Podgorny, deputy head of the Kametstal blast furnace shop for engineering, said that Kametstal plans to apply the experience gained during last year’s project to the overhaul of blast furnace No. 1M, with the goal of completing all
