Washington (Platts)--21Dec2012/539 pm EST/2239 GMT
ArcelorMittal's Tubarao steelworks in Brazil has returned to service the No. 1 blast furnace after a seven-month refurbishment project, a company spokesman said Friday. Built in 1983, the BF produces about 3.5 million mt/year of iron, with the $230 million revamp the first in its history. The flats facility's No. 2 BF, which was returned to service in March, will continue operating along with the No. 1 BF, while the No. 3 BF, which has a capacity of 2.8 million mt/year, has been shut for 90 days of maintenance. The mill in southeastern Esprito Santo state has an annual iron capacity of 7.5 million mt.--Adriana Carvalho, adriana_carvalho@platts.com --Edited by Jeff Barber, jeff_barber@platts.com