Ukrainian metallurgy switches to Russian coal

If the Avdiivka Coke Plant had not imported imported coals, it would have stopped long ago, said its general director Musa Magomedov.

“If we hadn’t transported alternative coals three times more expensive, we would have already been standing, but we are working half-heartedly. Our profitability is eaten up by military logistics and work below the break-even point: in February and March I am sure too. Dneprodzerzhinsk Metallurgical Plant is already reducing production due to the blockade. Zaporizhstal would gladly raise production, but we have not been able to send them a ton for the third month already, ”Magomedov said.

The ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih metallurgical plant, a member of the ArcelorMittal group, as a result of the blockade of railways in the ATO zone, is forced to import 100 percent of coking coal from its needs, increasing purchases in Russia, which leads to a decrease in profitability, said Deputy General Director of the enterprise Vladimir Tkachenko.

The Mariupol Ilyich Iron and Steel Works, a member of the Metinvest group, as a result of the blockade of railways in the ATO zone, reduced steel production in February by 16 percent or 36 thousand tons, pig iron - by 22 percent or 62 thousand tons, the general director said. enterprises Yuri Zinchenko.

“The blockade is killing businesses, cities, the future of thousands and thousands of Ukrainian families. The blockade of the railway from the category of an industry problem has already turned into a real threat to the energy security of Ukraine, ”said the General Director of the Ilyich Steel Plant.

At present, the utilization of the production capacities of the Azovstal metallurgical plant is 50-55 percent, but it may drop to 40 percent if the blockade of railways in the ATO zone continues, said the general director of the enterprise, Enver Tskitishvili.