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KVV Liepajas metalurgs rolling mills have been working already since mid-February, with output reaching 15,000 tons so far.

As reported, an event marking the resumption of production at KVV Liepajas metalurgs is taking place in Liepaja today.

The defunct Latvian metallurgical plant Liepajas metalurgs was bought by Ukraine's KVV Group in October 2014. Before that, Liepajas metalurgs used to be one of the largest industrial companies in the Baltic States, as well as one of the largest exporters of Latvia, it accounted for about 0.7-1% of Latvia's gross domestic product. Thus, resuming production at the plant will be an important event to Latvia's economy.

KVV Liepajas metalurgs has produced the first batch of steel bars – 5,000 tons; the company is planning to export it to Algeria in March, as the KVV Liepajas metalurgs board member Igor Kovalenko told LETA.

In February, KVV Liepajas metalurgs began testing the machines and equipment in one of the facilities of the company, the rolling mill. Taking into consideration that the plant has been idle for a comparatively long time, initially the rolling mill operated in test mode.

In the early stages of operation, the rolling mill is to manufacture 35,000 tons of steel bars a month, employing about 550 workers.