ArcelorMittal Provides Update Concerning Accident in Kazakhstan
01/14/2008 - ArcelorMittal provides update on the accident that occurred January 11 at its Abaiskaya mine in Kazakhstan, the cause of which has not yet been identified.
ArcelorMittal provided an update last Friday on the accident that occurred January 11 at its Abaiskaya mine in Kazakhstan. At the time of its press announcement, the company said it believed that there were 7 fatalities, and a further 23 people were still missing. The cause of the accident had not yet been identified.
The company said that emergency planning procedures had been implemented immediately following the accident at the mine, and that rescue work was underway. Senior members of ArcelorMittal Temirtau management, including CEO Satish Taparia were present at the mine, and a full investigation was being launched into the causes of the accident.
“I deeply regret that there has been an accident in one of our mines in Kazakhstan,” said Lakshmi Mittal, ArcelorMittal’s President and CEO. “We are doing everything we can to locate those still missing and to assist the bereaved.
“The safety of our workers is our number-one priority,” continued Mittal, noting that “and there has been a significant capital expenditure, change in operating practices, and a change in management to improve health and safety at our mines in Kazakhstan over the past years. An investigation into the causes of the accident has been launched.”
ArcelorMittal is the world's largest steel company, with 320,000 employees in more than 60 countries. The company leads a number of major global markets, including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with leading R&D and technology, as well as sizeable captive supplies of raw materials and outstanding distribution networks. An industrial presence in 27 European, Asian, African and American countries exposes the company to key steel markets, from emerging to mature, positions it will be looking to develop in the high-growth Chinese and Indian markets.
ArcelorMittal’s key pro forma financials for 2006 show combined revenues of USD 88.6 billion, with a crude steel production of 118 million tonnes, representing around 10% of world steel output.
