AMSA announces final closure of its long steel business in Vereeniging and Newcastle

BREAKING NEWS: VEREENIGING - ArcelorMittal SA has announced that despite their best efforts to deter the shutdown of its long steel business in Vereeniging and Newcastle, the parties involved have not been able to find timely solutions required. This comes after AMSA on 6 February said that they would delay by one month the Longs Business wind down implementation plan, which was initially scheduled to start by end-January 2025. AMSA spokesperson, Tami Didiza, said in a statement sent to 90.6 FM News today that the hope was to enable fulfilment of the higher-than-anticipated outstanding order book, prioritising automotive and seamless tube customers. They also engaged in continuing discussions with the South African Government on the future of the Longs Business. Didiza said AMSA acknowledges Government’s engagement during this process. However, despite their best efforts, the parties involved have not been able to find timely solutions required to defer the wind down of the Longs Business. It is envisaged that the shutdown of the blast furnace will commence in the first week of March with the last steel from the Longs Business produced by late-March / early-April 2025. The final wind down into care and maintenance should be fully implemented in Q2 2025.