Azovstal is based in Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast.

Current status

As of October 2017, Azovstal operates as normal.

Employees

On average 99,7% of staff worked at the plant in September 2016.

Capacity utilization

In September 2017, Azovstal produced 92% of the planned steel output.

Azovstal has not been damaged seriously by the hostilities. The biggest challenge for the plant was the termination of railway service on a route via Yasynuvata station that had been traditionally used to deliver raw materials and ship finished products.

The Group had to supply raw materials to Mariupol-based Azovstal and Illich Iron and Steel Works through seaports because of low traffic capacity of Polohy — Komysh-Zoria — Volnovakha railway section and the shortage of locomotive fleet. This solution is not so effective, more costly than direct rail supplies and requires high raw materials stocks in the supply chain. The restriction does not allow boosting the utilisation rate of Mariupol-based steel plants to produce 23,000-25,000 tonnes of pig iron per day as scheduled.

Together with Illich Steel employees, Azovstal staff are helping to rebuild Skhidny district of Mariupol that came under shelling on 24 January 2015. On 11 February 2015, Azovstal restored kindergarten No.42 destroyed by a blast and helped renew the most damaged kindergarten No.160 that re-opened on 8 April 2015.

Mariupol-based Illich Iron and Steel Works and Azovstal helped rebuild the railway bridge over the Kalchyk River between Sartana and Mariupol stations, which was blown up in a terrorist attack in December 2014. The restored facility was commissioned on 19 November 2015. Ukrzaliznytsia started using its two railway lines for passenger and freight traffic. Metinvest finished the bridge reconstruction on 20 October 2015. Restoration of the region’s key railway link will ensure normal operations at the Group’s Mariupol-based steel plants, enhance the safety and convenience of passenger transportation and allow for discontinuation of the use of an old single-track bridge. In total, Metinvest committed UAH 16 million for the bridge reconstruction.