The new director general of the enterprise, Yuri Melnik, told the reporter of the Novosti Pridnestrovya news agency about plans to stabilise the situation at the enterprise
JSC Moldova Steel Works (MMZ) started the year of 2015 with moderate production volumes. Only 8,000 t of section and about 12,000 t of rolled metal were produced in January because of raw material shortage.
"The works' technical condition is at a high level, and its potential is great. We can produce 1 million t of steel and 900,000 t of rolled metal if we have enough raw material," said the MMZ technical director, Igor Derevyanchenko.
Now a scheduled two-week repair of main shop floors is under way. The new management of MMZ is analysing the situation at the enterprise. According to preliminary estimates, 40,000 t of metal scrap is required to start the production.
"Today the works has already received 210 t of metal scrap. On Wednesday we are having negotiations with a Moldovan company; we have already reached a preliminary agreement on metal scrap supplies with some Rumanian companies, and, of course, we set hopes upon negotiations in Ukraine, which must be finished by the end of the week," said the MMZ director general, Yuri Melnik.
It should be noted that changes in the exchange rates in Russia and Ukraine have affected product markets. However, according to the management, the MMZ production is always in great demand owing to its high quality.
"In 2013 Pridnestrovie's government signed a memorandum on government assistance to the works. The government keeps on supporting our works, and I am sure the assistance will be further provided. The government assistance measures will enable the enterprise to work at the break-even point.
Besides, the enterprise has managed to retain all its staff. Now 2,500 people work here with 1,000 more people engaged in joint productions. Only management personnel is going to be reduced. The scheme of payment will not change for the metallurgists.
