S.African Arcelormittal unit shuts plant after blast

JOHANNESBURG May 26 (Reuters) - ArcelorMittal South Africa (ACLJ.J), a unit of the world's biggest steel maker, shut down its 1.2 million tonnes Saldanha mill on Tuesday, after an explosion at the plant, the company said.

Spokesman Sven Lunsche said no one was hurt when the explosion occurred at the mill's corex furnace, and an investigation into the cause of the accident was still ongoing.

"The mill will be down today and tomorrow when we will get a detailed assessment on the cause and how to proceed," Lunsche told Reuters.

The mill has been running at 60-65 percent capacity since February, Lunsche said. It produces thin gauge steel products mainly for export.

"We don't know yet how much production was lost ... there is some possibility of sourcing supplies elsewhere in South Africa or at some of the other ArcelorMittal group plants," he said.

(Reporting by Agnieszka Flak)