The future installation of a second steel mill in São LuÀs, capital of the state of Maranhão, in Brazil’s Northeast region, has been confirmed by the governor of that state, José Reinaldo Tavares.
The Korean steelmaker, Pohang Steel Company (Posco), one of the world’s largest, has signed a protocol. When operational, the new mill will produce 4 million tons of steel annually. Posco presently produces over 35 million tons of steel a year.
The Posco project rollout follows the recent announcement of the construction of another steel mill at the São Luis industrial center by the Chinese company, Baosteel. According to governor Tavares, the two steel mills signed similar installation and production contracts.
The Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), Brazil’s largest steel producer, informed earlier this year that it is going to invest around US$ 850 million over a period of 30 months. The funds will be turned to expansion of production and will be invested in mining and port infrastructure.
CSN also revealed that the money will be used in expanding the productive capacity of Casa de Pedra mine, elevating production to 40 million tons per year, against the current 6 million, in a palletising plant for the production of 15 million tons per year, against the current 6 million, as well as a port for export of produce.
“The accomplishment of this investment is subject to the approval of adequate financing, including favourable regulating conditions,” stated the company.
Profile
CSN was founded on April 9th, 1941, and started its activities on October 1st, 1946. As Brazil’s primary steel producer, CSN is a major landmark in the Brazilian industrialization process.
Its steel helped to create the very first national industries, which form the core of the present Brazilian manufacturing base.
Privatized in April 1993, CSN underwent thorough re-structuring and today it is a highly competitive company, present and pro-active both nationally and internationally, constantly investing in the quality of its products.
CSN is one of the largest steel making groups in Latin America, with a production capacity of 5.8 million tons of raw steel per year.
Being Brazil’s third largest consumer of electricity, in 1999 CSN inaugurated its own center for thermoelectric co-generation, CTE. With this venture, it started generating about 60% of the energy needs at President Vargas Mill.
The company is also part of the consortia of hydroelectric plants of Itá, located on the border between the southern states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina; and of Igarapava, in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais.
Constantly interested in developing and implementing logistic solutions to meet market requirements, CSN seeks to stand out from its competitors through integrated logistics involving mines, power plants, railways and ports. CSN has already achieved some of the world’s lowest operational costs.
To ensure dependable and flexible transportation of its raw materials and products, CSN has a controlling stake in MRS Logistica SA. Today, in the port of Sepetiba, the company operates the coal terminal (TECAR) and the container terminal (TECON).
CSN’s products are filtered to the export market through the ports of Sepetiba and Angra dos Reis, both in the southeastern state of Rio de Janeiro.