According to Mr Chen Yongnan chairman of Chinese steel producer Guangxi Province based Liuzhou Iron and Steel Group, the company plans to eliminate four blast furnaces within the next two years, comprising a total steelmaking capacity of 2 million tonnes.

The demolition process for Liuzhou Steel No 2 and No 3 blast furnaces was officially launched on the date of the announcement.

He said that since 2006 Liuzhou Steel has invested a total of CNY 20 billion in the upgrading and renovation of existing equipment. Meanwhile, it has also eliminated many outdated steelmaking capacities in the past few years, he added.

Liuzhou Steel has a total of ten blast furnaces at its steel production facilities. In order to adhere to China targets for energy savings and emissions reductions, Liuzhou Steel has decided to eliminate four blast furnaces within two years including three blast furnaces of 425 cubic meters each and one blast furnace of 306 cubic meters.