OREANDA-NEWS. Zhlobin-based Belarusian Metallurgical Plant (BMZ) plans to launch its EUR25.9 million lime calcining plant in the fourth quarter of 2013, a company official told.

The new equipment will be able to process 400 tonnes of lime per day.

By now 95% of installation operations have been accomplished.

The need for more calcined lime was prompted by growing metal output at BMZ, the official said.

The new equipment was designed by Merz (Switzerland), with transport systems supplied by Russia's VPP Izvesta, while metal constructions were manufactured by Belarus' Orsha-based Legmash.

As previously reported, the Belarusian Metallurgical Plant plans to increase steel production up to 3 million tonnes by 2015. 3 million tonnes of steel will be the culmination of the EUR550 million investment programme, which spans a period till 2015.

State-owned company Belarusian Metallurgical Plant was launched in 1984. BMZ exports about 85% of its output. Non-CIS countries account for more than 70% of the BMZ's exports.