Alexander Starukh showed great interest in the technical re-equipment, retooling and modernization of production of the Works, how environmental protection measures are being fulfilled and how the management of the Works is solving problems regarding social security of the workers.
During his visit to the Works the acting Governor visited 3 shops, the ones that best of all characterize the production of steel and the Works as a whole.
In the open-hearth furnace shop the delegation was met by the Superintendent of the shop, Konstantin Onoda. The guests were just in time to see tapping of steel. Konstantin Onoda told Alexander Starukh about the open-hearth furnace production under the rays of sparks and the hot breath of the furnace. After that he was invited into the depth of the shop. This was done to give Alexander Starukh a possibility to try on the steel maker’s helmet with glasses and make him feel himself a real steel maker.
The second visit was to the pride of the Works — the air separation unit in the oxygen compressor shop. A lot of people entered the spacious control room. Under the flashes of cameras the Acting Governor watches the control monitors. The operator explains how the operating processes of the air separation unit are displayed on the monitor. After that the delegation enters the machine room. On his way back Alexander Starukh peeps into the rest room in order to inspect the recreation conditions of the workers. He is quite satisfied with what he sees.
On the way from the administrative building the Chief Power Engineer of the Works, Alexander Lykov, told the delegation the plans on future participation of Zaporizhstal in the project on providing the city regions with industrial heat.
After visiting the ‘hottest’ shop of the Works, i.e the hot strip mill shop, Alexander Starukh decided to share his impressions.
– It’s not my first visit to the Works, — said the Head of the region, — I was here in 2006 when the Works was visited by the President. Zaporizhstal is the face of the region. That is why it is by no means unimportant that the Works pays great attention to the problems of ecology. The plant management reacts towards all the production and social problems absolutely correctly, adequately and efficiently.
– How does Zaporizhstal react to the country becoming a member of the WTO? Will it be positive for production or will the effect of the WTO on production be negative?
– Membership in the WTO is a complicated and complex question. One cannot say categorically that the metallurgists will benefit by such a decision. At present the price of raw materials is very high and the price of steel products consists of the expenditure part. In this situation it is necessary for us to work with less expenditures and maximum quality, commented on the situation Alexander Putnoki.
After getting acquainted with the production Alexander Starukh met the Chairman of the Board Vitaliy Antonovich Satskiy and participated in negotiations with the Works’ management. The items under discussion were of vital importance: to determine the course of mutual work against the background of world inflation, global raise of prices on resources and the absence of a practical source of raw material at the Works.