ArcelorMittal Invests $47 mln to Overhaul Bosnia Plant, Curb Pollution

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, said on Friday it was investing 75 million Bosnian marka ($47 million) to overhaul a blast furnace at its steel plant in Bosnia to extend its lifespan and improve environmental standards.

Environmentalists have long complained about high levels of pollution caused by the plant in the central Bosnian town of Zenica, which has a workforce of 2,200 people and is Bosnia's top exporter.
Work will start in coming days on what will be the biggest overhaul at the plant since 1989 and should extend the lifespan of the plant for another 15 to 20 years, Dijana Bozic-Srdanovic, the plant's spokeswoman, said.

The work should be completed by the end of June, she said.

The steelmaker was installing three filters at the facility which are designed to capture 95 percent of harmful gases and reduce dust emissions to less then 10 milligrams per normal cubic metre, said Bozic-Srdanovic.

ArcelorMittal (MT) produced 756,000 tonnes of liquid steel in 2017.

Reporting by Maja Zuvela