China dismantles blast furnaces

The Baogang Group began dismantling one of the blast furnaces built in 1959. The production capacity will decrease by more than one million tons and about 2.5 thousand metallurgists will lose their jobs.

China's Baogang Group is planning significant demolition of its blast furnaces. This is part of a plan to combat overproduction as well as air pollution. This oven has a volume of 1,800 cubic meters. It had a production capacity of 1.33 million tons per year. According to Xinhua, it will be the largest kiln so far slated for liquidation as part of the Chinese government's announced plan last year to reduce overproduction in industries, including metallurgy.

The elimination of the kiln will reduce smoke and dust emissions by about 2,800 tons and sulfur dioxide by 57 tons per year. In addition, more than 2,400 workers who were transferred to other positions or retired will also lose their jobs.

The kiln weight is estimated at 10 thousand tons. Kiln demolition work can take up to 3 months.