El-Fouladh to bring its second expansion project on stream

The volume of bar imports into Tunisia in 2008 amounted to 190,635 tonnes against 99,773 tonnes in 2007, Arab Steel reported. The volume of imports of wire rod amounted to 54,443 tonnes in 2008 against 49,266 tonnes in 2007.
As per report, production of bars at Tunisian Steel Manufacturing Company amounted to 91,583 in 2008. This figure is too close to the company’s production in 2007.
The company expects its second expansion project to come on stream during the H1 of 2009. The addition of a second electric furnace is expected to be a new production capacity of billets, estimated to be 100 000 tonnes per year.
The company had implemented its first expansion project in 2007, which resulted in boosting the production capacity of the present furnace from 65,000 tonnes up to 100,000 tonnes to keep pace with the development of the industry of building steel by producing stiffer grade of steel which allows saving in quantities.