Government could have taken ‘easy decisions’ to avert the shutdown, says CEO.ArcelorMittal South Africa , which announced the winding up of its long-steel business on Monday, will now refocus its efforts on its flat-steel business and new opportunities such as the restart of operations at its Thabazimbi iron ore mine in Limpopo province.
ArcelorMittal notes that the final number of retrenchments as a result of the closures will depend on “agreed alternatives and consultation outcomes”, but it is envisaged that approximately 3 500 direct and indirect jobs may be affected.According to Verster, the closure of the long-steel business will “remove” around one million tonnes of the product from the market.
ArcelorMittal has pondered the reopening of the Thabazimbi iron ore mine for a number of years since acquiring it from Kumba Iron Ore in February 2017. At the time, ArcelorMittal was the mine’s sole customer. ArcelorMittal also intends to re-establish itself as an exporter into sub-Saharan Africa and other key geographies, which will enable the company to “operate at full capacity” until the local steel market recovers.
According to Verster, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition was informed of the intended closure on 21 December last year, but there has been “no feedback”.
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