Biggest metallurgical works in Donbass have reconstructed and are increasing the output – Lavrenov

Donetsk, July 5 the Donetsk News Agency

The Donetsk and Yenakiyevo metallurgical works have resumed production after the long-term “hot” shutdown and are now increasing the output, reports Head of Economic Development Strategy Board of the DPR Head’s Administration Yevgeniy Lavrenov in his interview to a DNA correspondent.

“The Donetsk and Yenakiyevo metallurgical works have practically fully restored their production”, — he said.

As Lavrenov remarked, the DMW is at present functioning to 40 per cent of its scheduled capacity and is not experiencing shortage of coke. “Metallurgic production strategy is being worked out in correspondence with coke production, as they are closely connected. Our goal is to gradually reach the planned capacity”, — he underlined.

According to him, enough of coking coal is being mined in the Republic for the existing metal production, but in order for the metallurgical plants to reach the scheduled capacity the production of coke should be increased. “We need to produce four times more coke in order to provide ourselves fully with it, and this is, probably, the task to be carried out in the course of two-three years to come”, — the representative of DPR Head’s Administration said.

The Donetsk and Yenakiyevo metallurgical works are the biggest metallurgical enterprises and the main employers in the black metallurgy of Donbass. Owing to the blockade on the part of Ukraine, destruction of railway communications and shelling the DMW and YMW (including the Makeyevka foundries) had to stop production.  Later the works managed to relaunch the blast furnaces and resume functioning.