The state-owned RINL steel plant is in a severe crisis following the shutdown of its second blast furnace last week due to a shortage of funds and raw materials, especially coking coal, according to local media reports.
RINL’s BF-1 was already closed in March, leaving only one operational furnace, with coal supplies expected to last just five to six days.
The plant’s production has dropped to 5,000 tons per day, down from 21,000 tons when all three furnaces were operational. If no fresh coal stocks arrive, the third furnace will also shut down, marking the first time RINL has halted steel production since the plant opened in 1982.
RINL needs 14,000 tons of coking coal daily to produce 20,000 tons of liquid steel across its three furnaces. Although it should have a 45-day coal stock, only 20,000 tons remain, forcing the management to shut down furnaces, the reports added.
