OREANDA-NEWS. On April 14, 2008 the management of the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Combine (NMC), which is one of the three largest steel producers in Russia, held a meeting with representatives from the Transport Department of Russian Railways, South Eastern Railways (SER) and the Yeletsky division of SER, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

The meeting reviewed plans to carry out a feasibility study on developing the railway infrastructure at Kazinka, Chugun-2 and Novolipetsk stations.

According to plans, weight standards (the maximum permissible weight) would increase to 6,000 tons per train.

NMC plans to increase its steel production from 9,1 million to 12,4 million tons a year, thus necessitating increased transportation capacity.

The Combine plans to ship up to 60% of its increased finished products (slabs and rental) via Russia’s southern ports of Tuapse and Novorossiysk.

The increased production will mean that the number of trains between the Yeletsky division and NMC will rise from 35 to 52 pairs a day. However, NMC plans to increase steel production yet further to 15 million tons by 2015, which will require an additional rise in the number of trains to 65 pairs a day.