Canadian steel producer Algoma halts production amid unplanned outage
Canadian steel products producer Algoma Steel Group is experiencing an unplanned outage at its Lake Superior Power generating facility, which has led to suspended production at its electric arc furnace (EAF).
The company advises that downstream finishing and shipping activities continue while technical teams are on site to assess the condition and repair requirements of affected power equipment.
Algoma is also bringing forward previously scheduled maintenance at the Lake Superior Power generating facility to reduce future planned downtime.
Based on the group’s current inventory and order positions, it does not expect a significant impact on its ability to meet committed customer delivery dates, however, future shipment volumes may be affected by the outage. Algoma expects the EAF to be offline for no more than 21 days.
Algoma is engaging with the Independent Electricity System Operator to evaluate alternative onsite power supply arrangements that would enable a restart of the EAF operations while repairs at the power generating facility are underway – this would reduce the outage timeline to within ten days.
Simultaneously, Algoma is working with GE Vernova under its long-term contracted service agreement, which was put in place to provide support in this type of situation, to mobilise and commission its contracted spare turbine at the site, which the company expects will support a return to normal operating conditions at Lake Superior Power.