The Kryvyi Rih City Council has called on ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman Lakshmi Mittal to review the plan for a complete shutdown of the ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel plant. Deputies supported an open appeal initiated by Yuriy Vilkul at a session on October 28.

Local authorities are asking to preserve production facilities and as many jobs as possible. The appeal also says that the city learned about the company's plans from the media and wants to discuss the possible consequences of the shutdown for the community.

ArcelorMittal earlier reported that, after a series of Russian missile strikes, it cannot safely resume operations at the Kryvyi Rih facility. Primary steelmaking production has already been halted. In October, the plant announced the beginning of transferring facilities into a state of cold shutdown, with the assets to be preserved for a possible restart once security conditions improve.

According to the city council, about 17,000 people currently work at the enterprise. Deputies fear that further staff reductions will deprive thousands of families of income and increase social tension in the city.

The appeal separately mentions the need to constantly maintain tailings storage facilities, dams, drainage systems, and other facilities of the mining department. In the council's view, environmental risks will grow if, along with the production shutdown, staffing and funds for technical supervision are reduced. This is an assessment of possible consequences included in the appeal, not a report of an accident.

The city council proposes that the company consider partial operation of the steel production complex provided worker safety is ensured, and also maintaining the activities of the mining department. According to the authors of the appeal, the railway can transport up to 300,000 tons of iron ore concentrate per month to ArcelorMittal enterprises in Europe. The company, for its part, explained the decision to halt production by saying that under current conditions it cannot ensure the safe and stable operation of the plant.

Based on materials from: Kryvyi Rih City Council, ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih