Author: Scott Gregory : 05/23/07

Due to unexpected foundation problems resulting from soil degradation associated with an abnormally high water table, construction was delayed for several weeks on the ENS Ladle Furnace Project while additional structural piling was put in place. This additional piling corrects both present and potential future issues associated with soil conditions.

The start up timetable will also now be affected by the previously scheduled summer shutdowns at both ENS and EQS. The LF commissioning has been pushed back into August with routine steel production expected to begin in September. Once the LF is fully operational, it is expected that ENS will melt about 90,000 NTs per year on a two shift off-peak schedule.

Other projects contained within the ladle furnace expansion have remained on or slightly ahead of schedule such as the installation of the HEM saw for cropping and multing, the new hot metal crane for teeming logistics, and the scrap yard crane for improved scrap loading efficiencies.