MT News
The nation’s annual steel and iron demand is about two million tons, Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said.
He made this comment during his inspection of No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan) of Ministry of Industry, in Myingyan Township, Mandalay Region on 31 May.
The Senior General said the nation’s annual steel and iron demand is about two million tons. Hence, efforts were made to resume the mill’s operations that were halted during the term of previous government.
Electricity is needed to produce steel. Hence, field research should be conducted to supply enough power to the mill. In addition, solar power must also be taken into account, he said.
He said Melt Shop-1 of the mill is completed, and further steps are needed to complete the entire project.
All must strive for the success of the project as the mill and Pinpet Steel Mill will produce steel for the country. Programs should be realized to bring about quality human resources for steel production. Basic needs of employees must be fulfilled. Long-term plans should be adopted to transport raw materials to the mill and its products to various places by electric trains in the future, he continued.
The Senior General formally launched the Melt Shop-1 and billet production sector to mark the commissioning of the Melt Shop-1. Later, he commissioned the steel smelting functions of the foundry department.
He then inspected the functions of foundry department in the Melt Shop-1, constant molding section where nine-metre long steel billets were produced. After hearing the reports of officials, the Senior General gave the work guidance.
No 1 Steel Mill (Myingyan) was implemented in 2004 through signing the agreement. It produced 2,000 tons of steel sheets from Melt Shop-2 in 2016. During theconstruction of the plant, although more than 90 per cent of machinery arrived, the project tasks were halted due to decisions from the Union government fourth regular meeting 7/2017 and meeting decisions of the 11th day session of the four regular meeting of the Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw in 2017.
During the period of haltig the prject as from 15 March 2017, investments amounted to Ks-403,932.882 million and the project has completed by 66.52 per cent. Due to halting the project, the State lost a large sum of finance, and the government paid back loans for the project. Steel manufacturing is of great importance for the State. Upon completion of the project, the country can reduce import volume of iron and steel wares and can use steel wares at cheaper prices than that of the foreign market.
During the time of the State Administration Council, the government meeting 1/2021 decided to verify the steel plant projects and to resume them. During the inspection tour of No 1 Steel Plant (Myingyan) on 24 Januar 2022, the Senior General gave guidance on systematic supervision for timely completion of the plant project in building it in phases.
In implementing the project tasks, the melt shop-1 has been completed for the phase-1. At a time when the phase-1 of the Melt Shop-1 is being operated at full capacity, tasks will be continued to run the Phase-2 for the melt shop-2. Running of the whole project will be undertaken phase to phase. No 1 Steel Plant (Myingyan) is striving as a main driving force for revitalization of the iron and steel industry of Myanmar and developing Myanmar’s industrial sector more than now.
