Ahmsa's Fénix project progressing as 12 coker plant furnaces begin operation

Mexican steelmaker Altos Hornos de México (Ahmsa) has announced progress on its Fénix expansion project with the completion of 12 new furnaces. The start of operations of the furnaces marks the completion of the first stage of the 230mn peso (US$18.8mn) reconstruction and expansion of the coker plant, Planta Coquizadora 1. The work, which began two years ago, involves the demolition and reconstruction of the 29 furnaces that make up Block 4 of the plant, which has been out of operation since 1993, and the reconstruction of a 90-metre chimney. Refurbishment of the remaining 17 furnaces, which is 85% complete, is ongoing and expected to finish in October. The reconstruction program will increase the capacity of the coker plant, which produces coke to feed Ahmsa's blast furnaces for the production of crude iron, which is used to produce steel. The Fénix project, which began in 2007, aims to increase the company's installed capacity to 5.5Mt/y of liquid steel and increase its product range, and includes the installation of a new electric steel plant. Ahmsa, based in Monclova, Coahuila state, produced 3.9Mt of liquid steel in 2012.