The temporary idling of a Severstal plant in Maryland will have no effect on the Columbus plant”s operations, a local official said.
Charlie Furman, external relations manager for Severstal Columbus, says the Sparrows Point, Md., plant is curtailing steel and ironmaking operations for 30 days due to a dip in the local economy.
“That will have no impact on Columbus whatsoever,” said Furman. “We”ve been running at full capacity for months and will continue to run at full capacity.”
He confirmed plans to expand the Columbus facility are on track with more than 100 contractor employees on the site. By the end of 2011, Severstal hopes to increase its capacity from melting 1.7 million tons of steel each year to 3.4 million tons, which will result in about 100 new jobs.
Severstal North America officials say the reduction also will not affect plants in Yorkville, Ohio, and Martins Ferry, Ohio, which were supplied by the Sparrows Point plant.
The Sparrows Point plant was built in 1889 by Bethlehem Steel and was at one point the largest steel mill in the world.
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