Posted on 03 Apr 2025
One month after its official launch, Bolivia's state-owned Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún (ESM) has produced its first billet, Kallanish notes.
In its initial phase, the steel complex plans to manufacture 2,000-3,000 tonnes/month of billet, which will be transformed into rebar and wire rod. Once fully operational, the integrated operations at El Mutún are estimated to have an annual production of 200,000t of rebar and wire rod.
“The steel plant reached temperatures above 1,550°C during a week of preparation to achieve the optimal metallurgical process,” ESM president Jorge Alvarado Rivas says. “Each billet measures 16 meters in length, has a 15mm side, and weighs one ton. With this, we reaffirm our commitment to import substitution and strengthening the national economy.”
ESM’s steel will be more competitive than products originating from Brazil or Peru, and even more so than imports from China, as the raw material sourced from the El Mutún mine boasts an iron content of 65% Fe, Alvarado explains. He confirms ESM’s rebar will be sold at $1,200/t, which is $200-300/t lower than the current market price.
Source:Kallanish
