The multimillion-dollar maintenance project at BlueScope’s blast furnace is “a good investment” in the region.
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The cooling staves on one level of the eight-storey blast furnace are being replaced.
The work, which will be around the clock from Monday until Friday afternoon, involves around 400 workers – both BlueScope employees and contractors.
Manager of cokemaking and ironmaking for BlueScope Dave Bell said the worn staves needed to be replaced to avoid water getting into the blast furnace, which would cause an explosion.
The furnace was turned off on Monday, and it will take some time to get it up and running after Friday.
“It’s about two weeks to get back to something resembling normal,” he said.
Mr Bell said extending the furnace’s life was a sign of how serious the company was about staying put.
“It’s a good investment in the Illawarra and the Port Kembla steelworks,” he said.