OREANDA-NEWS.   EVRAZ plc (LSE: EVR) ("EVRAZ" or the "Company") announces the start of mass production at its rolling mill EVRAZ Caspian Steel in Kostanay, Kazakhstan. The first lot of rebar from the new mill has been already delivered to customers.

The plant has a planned production capacity of 450 thousand tonnes of rebar per annum, with products including rebars of various length, with diameters from 10mm to 40mm. Currently the mill is producing hardened rebar A500S with diameters of 14mm, 18mm and 25mm and A3 rebar made of steel grade 25G2S with diameters of 18mm and 25mm. EVRAZ Caspian Steel will also produce a unique EVRAZ rebar A500(SP), allowing savings of up to 25% of the amount of metal used during construction works. This rebar has been awarded all necessary certificates in Kazakhstan.

The mill is equipped with a state-of-art quality control certified laboratory, and a packing line which meets all its clients’ needs.

“The markets of Kazakhstan and Central Asia, where the products from the mill will be delivered and sold, have been demonstrating steady growth in the past few years. The start of mass production in Kostanay will provide our clients in Kazakhstan with locally-produced rebar, meeting government policies of import substitution,” noted EVRAZ Vice-president, the Head of Steel Division Alexey Ivanov.

EVRAZ Caspian Steel is a joint venture between EVRAZ (65%) and Kazakhstani company Caspian Group (35%). In 2014 the plant was recognized as the project of the year at the national mining and metallurgical contest of Kazakhstan “Golden Gefest”.