OREANDA-NEWS. January 18, 2007. Based on 12M07 results, output of square blanks at Frolov Electric-Steel-Making Plant of CJSC "Volga-FEST" reached 221 thousand tons, which is a 12% increase y-o-y. Output of continuous casting of steel blanks amounted to 197 thousand tons for 2006.

Shipment of finished products to consumers climbed to 208.9 thousand tons, vs. 195.6 thousand tons in 2006.

It is worth mentioning that ESTAR company which purchased Volga-FEST in late 2007 made a decision to upgrade the plant. The upgrade goal is to raise steel melting output to 480 thousand tons per year. The first stage implies increase of the output of existing electric arc furnace to 320 thousand tons per year (19 melts a day). Investments in this stage of reconstructing electric steel melting and drop hammer shops will exceed ?25 mn. The first stage of technical upgrade is scheduled to be completed in Q3 2009.

The second upgrade stage is designed for 1.5 years and implies installation of a new continuous casting machine with capacity of 480 thousand tons of marketable products per year. Investments in the second stage of upgrade will amount to ?11 mn. The programme of Volga-FEST technical upgrade is designed until 2010, when the stage of commissioning and mastering of new equipment is scheduled.

Besides, construction of a second electric furnace shop with capacity of up to 500 thousand tons per year and  bar and section mill to produce reinforcement will be kicked off.