The state of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, will be the site of a steel complex with capacity to produce 4.4 million tons of steel during its first 12 months of operation.
The protocol of intentions for the construction of the complex, which will be located near the Port of Sepetiba, in the eastern region of the state, was signed, yesterday January 12, by governor Rosinha Matheus, the president of the German Thyssen-Krupp Stahl company, Karl Koehler, and the president of the Vale do Rio Doce Company, Roger Agnelli.
Work is slated to begin this year and should generate 8 thousand jobs. With investments of US$ 3.3 billion (9 billion reais), the complex will be formed of a steel mill (the CSA, Atlantic Steel Company), a thermoelectric plant, and an ocean terminal.
The first stage of the complex is expected to be inaugurated in 2008, and the second stage, in 2010.
The forecast is for three thousand direct jobs and 15 indirect ones to be created once the complex is ready.
When construction is concluded, annual production is expected to attain 7.5 million tons, beginning in 2010.
The yearly output of the National Steel Company (CSN), Brazil’s current leader in steel production and export, stands at around 5 million tons.
Translation: David Silberstein
Agência Brasil