Estonia, Markets and Companies, Metals Market

Reconfiguring of production lines of the plant was started last year already.

The Managing Director of ArcelorMittal Tallinn Argo Aavik did not, however, want to disclose the exact date of re-launching.

The Minister for Economy and Communications of Estonia Juhan Parts was happy hearing the news that the plant, that once cost 3 bln kroons to build, would start working again. “I value all such news highly. This creates an optimistic mood and I hope that the message reaches other entrepreneurs, too.”

Aavik said that the time when the plant didn’t yield production was used to design new production equipment that reduces the need for human labor.

Two years ago, ArcelorMittal’s production volume was nearly 200 mln tones a year, but this year such big numbers are not eyed.

While the company production covered over a half of Estonian market in 2008, its main market is Russia.

Arcelor-Mittal bought the former Galvex galvanising plant at the end of 2007. In May 2009 production was suspended and 100 people made redundant.