UPDATE 1-ArcelorMittal to double capacity at Kazakh plant
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BRUSSELS, June 10 (Reuters) - ArcelorMittal (MTP.PA) (ISPA.AS), the world's largest steelmaker, said on Tuesday that it planned to double the steelmaking capacity of its Temirtau plant in Kazakhstan to 10 million tonnes.
The project will take five to nine years to complete, the company said in a statement, adding that the expansion encompassed steelmaking, iron ore and coal extraction.
The company will also upgrade the Atasu iron ore mine, increasing production to 16 million tonnes and making Temirtau entirely self-sufficient in iron ore.
It earmarked $1.2 billion investment for improvements in health and safety and modernisation of existing coal mines.
"Combined with the development of new mines, production is therefore expected to reach approximately 17 million tonnes of mined coal by 2018. This will further increase self-sufficiency in coal supply for ArcelorMittal Termirtau," it said.
It said the investments would considerably reduce emissions and help achieve environmental standards. (Reporting by Dale Hudson; Editing by Quentin Bryar/Rory Channing)
