Reduced iron-ore production in Kiruna
Iron-ore production reached all-time high at Swedish LKAB in Kiruna 2008. But 2009 starts with almost filled up storages. The number of train carriages to the Norwegian port of Narvik can be reduced to half.
LKAB in northern Sweden is the biggest producer of iron-ore and iron-pellets within the Barents Region. The company’s two underground mines are located in Kiruna and Malmberget. From Kiruna the ore is transported by rail to the port facilities in Narvik. Now, the iron-ore storages in Narvik are filled-up and the number of trains with ore are reduced from 12-13 per day to seven, reports Fremover, the local newspaper in Narvik.
LKAB is now adjusting to the decreased demand for iron ore products by closing several of its pelletizing plants during the winter and spring.
- The market outlook has changed dramatically in the past month, says LKAB President and CEO, Ola Johnsson. The situation is difficult to assess, and our customers will be cutting back drastically in the near future. In the short term, we have to adapt. At the same time, our long-term plan of expenditures remains unchanged.
Despite a steep decline in the world economy at the close of 2008, production of crude ore in both of LKAB’s iron ore mines was record-breaking, reports SteelGuru.com
In all, nearly 43 million tonnes of crude ore, of which 27.5 Mt in Kiruna and 15.4 Mt in Malmberget, was produced. This represents a total increase of almost 2 Mt compared with 2007.
Also the production of iron-pellets reached all-time high with a production of 19,9 million tons in 2008, reports the regional newspaper Norrbottens Kuriren.
