Bolivia plans to start
production at the US$546mn El Mutún steel complex in Puerto Suárez, Santa Cruz
province, in September.
Full capacity will be achieved in March 2025 and construction is
85% complete, the head of ESM Mutún, Jorge Alvarado Rivas, said at a public
accountability event.
The Exim Bank of China provides US$385mn.
The administration of President Luis Arce expects production of
at least 25,000t of corrugated construction bars and wire rods between
September and December.
Operational tests will be carried out at six of the complex's
seven plants in July and August. The
direct reduced iron (DRI) plant will be completed in January, Rivas said.
He added that the complex has capacity to produce 200,000t/y,
planned to replace almost 50% of steel imports from Peru, Argentina, Brazil and
China.
To
operate the complex, 33 Bolivian professionals are currently being trained in
China.