Ispat-Karmet (Kazakhstan) will increase rolling of steel up to 3.9 m tons in 2002

/REUTERS, Astana, Raushan Nurshayeva, September 30, 02/ - The monopolistic steel producer in Kazakhstan Ispat-Karmet company intends in 2002 to increase up to 3.8-3.9 million tons of flat section from 3.6 million tons in 2001, informed managing director of "Naval Choudkhari" company. He added that Ispat-Karmet intends to increase production volumes every year. "We expect that in 2003 production will increase up to 4.2 million tons", - said Choudkhari to journalists on the past Sunday. Ispat-Karmet, which join metallurgic plant in Karaganda, several mines and heat station, belongs to British Ispat International, which, in its turn, is a part of Anglo- Indian holding LNM Group. According to Choudkhari's words, investments into Ispat-Karmet during the last several years reached $800m. In the nearest five years the company intends to invest into production $500-580m more, he added. Choudkhari said that investments, in particular, will be spent for reconstruction of blast-furnace. Another promising project is setting of two machines of non-stop steel spill that cost $260-300m. It will allow, according to Choudkhari's words, to approximate the existing technologies to modern standards. Investments will also be directed towards modernization of ore base and coal production. Ispat-Karmet examines also the possibility of participation in building of the plant on pipes making for oil and gas branch in Aktau city. According to Choudakhri's words, Ispat-Karmet now exports its production to China, Russia, Iran and to the states of Eurounion. He also said that the company, which recently included the new line of zinc coating into the production cycle, seeks for way to the markets of Canada and the USA. [2002-09-30]