Introduction to ArcelorMittal South Africa Saldanha Works

ArcelorMittal South Africa
Saldanha Works
Introduction to ArcelorMittal South Africa Saldanha Works
1. History
ArcelorMittal’s Saldanha Works is a largely export-focused plant, is in
close proximity to the deep-sea port of Saldanha and employs 685 staff.
The plant commissioned its first hot rolled coil (HRC) in late 1998 and is
currently producing at its designed nameplate capacity of 1.2 million
tonnes per annum.
The plant is distinguished by merging leading edge technologies to
produce high quality ultra thin hot rolled coil (UTHRC). The ISO 9002 and
ISO 14001 accredited plant is the only steel mill in the world to have
successfully combined the Corex/Midrex process into a continuous chain -
replacing the need for coke ovens and blast furnaces, and making the
plant a world leader in emission control and environmental management.
Facilities and technologies at Saldanha Works were specifically designed
to produce 'clean'steel, with virtually no impurities such as tin and copper.
The continuous production chain is exceptionally short, taking only 16
hours from the time iron ore enters the Corex or Midrex units to the rolled
product. The individual processes are linked very closely with virtually no
process stock between the units.
In the highly competitive international hot rolled coil (HRC) market,
Saldanha Works has carved a niche for itself in applications requiring
HRC in thicknesses of less than 1.6mm.
2. General information about Saldanha
Saldanha Bay/Saldanha is situated at the northern corner of the largest
natural bay in South Africa along a beautiful stretch of coastline with
gorgeous, cosy beaches.
Saldanha is renowned for its abundance in seafood (crayfish, fish,
mussels and abalone) and glorious wild flowers during springtime. The
local economy is strongly dependent on fishing, mussels, seafood
processing, the steel industry and the harbour.
Saldanha has the deepest and largest natural harbour in the southern
hemisphere, and the safest in South Africa and is well known as an export
harbour for iron ore The sheltered harbour plays an important part in the
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ArcelorMittal South Africa
Saldanha Works
Sishen-Saldanha iron-ore project in which ArcelorMittal Saldanha Works
takes center stage.
This town is also home to one of South Africa’s largest commercial fishing
fleets, the South African Military Academy and SAS Saldanha, a naval
training base.
Langebaan is a resort town where the blue Langebaan Lagoon stretches
for 17km parallel to the Atlantic Ocean. The lagoon is popular with water
sport enthusiasts with activities varying from water skiing to spear fishing
and birdwatching. Flamingos, sandpipers and plovers are some of the
feathered friends who like to feed on the shrimp and prawn living in the
mud banks.
The Postberg Private Nature Reserve (open August and September) is
not only home to spectacular wild flowers, but also hosts several antelope
and game species, including zebra, kudu, gemsbok, blue and black
wildebeest and eland.
The SAS Saldanha Nature Reserve offers a display of wildflowers during
late winter and spring while Southern Right Whales also visit the waters in
and around the nature reserve.
In 2000 Saldanha was incorporated with six other towns into the new
municipality of Saldanha Bay The areas that fall under the Saldanha Bay
Municiplaity area of jurisdiction include the towns Hopefield, Langebaan,
Vredenburg, Saldanha, St. Helena Bay, Jacobsbay and Paternoster.
Visit http://www.saldanhabay.co.za/ more information on Saldanha Bay or
http://www.saldanhabaybizz.co.za/pages/surround.php for information
about the surrounding area.
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