Zelezara Smederevo Shuts Down One Blast Furnace

The Chinese company HBIS, the owner of the steel mill in Smederevo, has stopped production at one of the two blast furnaces, the company confirmed for Tanjug.

The decision, as HBIS said, was reached due to the crisis in the market, caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

– The reasons for shutting down Blast Furnace 1 at HBIS Serbia are the influence of the quotas on the export of our steel to EU states and the reduced demand for steel in the market, as many of our clients have stopped production due to the coronavirus pandemic – Zelezara says.

Considering that plan of orders received by the company for the upcoming period, the operations, they say, have been adapted to the current situation.

– When market conditions meet for the reopening, the furnace will be put back into operation.

When it comes to the employees, who, they say, are returning to their jobs, the company's crisis response group implemented a range of measures, based on the experiences from China and the directives of the Crisis Response Group of the Republic of Serbia.

The measures, they add, have proven to be efficient in protecting those who work at the company from getting infected with coronavirus.

HBIS GROUP Serbia Iron & Steel d.o.o. Beograd has facilities in three locations in Serbia, in the village of Radinac, near Smederevo and in Sabac.

HBIS GROUP Iron & Steel d.o.o. Beograd

Chinese company HBIS

steel mill in Smederevo

coronavirus

pandemic

coronavirus crisis

operations of Zelezara

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