“Metinvest upgrades Zaporizhstal: large-scale repairs for UAH 135 million
28 August 17:21
Zaporizhstal Iron and Steel Works (Metinvest Group) continues to modernize its production facilities as part of its annual capital investment program. The company is carrying out comprehensive overhauls of three groups of heating wells in the hot slab rolling shop, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing information from the mining company.
The total investment in this project exceeds UAH 135 million.
Currently, the company is operating at 75% of capacity, but the maintenance program is being implemented in full. As Zaporizhstal’s management emphasizes, the renewal of heating wells is critical for the stability of the hot rolling process. These units ensure the thermal preparation of metal ingots weighing up to 16 tons before further rolling into slabs and thin products.
“The quality of finished products, their compliance with standards and customer expectations depends on the temperature regime and uniform heating in the wells,” said Taras Shevchenko, Acting General Director of Zaporizhstal.
Key works: new lining and systems upgrade
As part of the overhaul, the following is being done
- dismantling of worn-out refractories and replacement with new materials from Zaporozhogneupor (more than 2,200 tons of refractory bricks and shotcrete)
- modernization of mechanical and power equipment, including automation, hydraulics, and temperature sensors,
- replacement of valves and communications,
- installation of about 900 tons of new steel structures.
The project involved both the plant’s internal services (engineering, automation, electrical laboratory) and contractors Etalonbudservice and MSK Prime.
Read also: Metinvest and Danieli confirm their intention to build a plant in Italy
Investment priorities in 2025
In addition to the renewal of wells, in 2025, Zaporizhstal will implement a program to overhaul the equipment of the combined heat and power plant. The total budget for repairs of boiler No. 5, turbine generator No. 1 and turbocharger No. 7 is about UAH 75 million.
In total, in 2025, the company plans to invest UAH 1.1 billion in capital projects, despite the challenges caused by the war and the difficult macroeconomic situation.
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How Metinvest Group will operate in Ukraine after 2022
Metinvest Group was a key player in Ukraine’s steel industry before the outbreak of full-scale war: the company accounted for 40% of steel exports and was the country’s largest private employer. In the 2000s, it merged leading mining and metallurgical enterprises, created a vertically integrated structure, entered international markets, and invested more than $2 billion in environmental modernization. Metinvest also founded its own university, Metinvest Polytechnic.
However, since February 24, 2022, the company has suffered serious losses as a result of the Russian invasion. Direct losses are estimated at $3.5 billion. “Metinvest lost control of two strategic assets, Azovstal and Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol, which accounted for almost 50% of its steelmaking capacity. And in early 2025, the Pokrovske Coal Group was also shut down due to the hostilities.
Nevertheless, the company quickly adapted to the new conditions. It not only continues to operate, but has become one of the largest corporate donors to the state and the Armed Forces. Its main enterprises are currently operating in Kryvyi Rih, Kamianske and Zaporizhzhia. After the opening of the Black Sea corridor, the company managed to restore export logistics routes.
Metinvest continues to be one of the leaders in the steel and iron ore industries in Ukraine, consistently ranking among the top 10 largest taxpayers.
The company is pursuing a dual development strategy: maintaining and modernizing its Ukrainian assets while building new production sites in Europe. In addition to the existing facilities in Italy, Bulgaria and the UK, the company plans to launch a new plant in Piombino (Italy) in 2028.
As of today, Metinvest remains one of the three largest employers in the country, behind only Ukrzaliznytsia and ATB. Before the war, the company employed more than 100,000 people, and now it also performs a unique function as the largest private employer of veterans.
To support the defenders of Ukraine, the company has created a comprehensive veterans’ program that covers both its own employees and veterans from other sectors: informal communities, legal and psychological assistance, counseling, retraining and education at its own university.
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