Mittal Steel has announced a lengthier outage, with accompanying layoffs, for its plant in Weirton, W.Va.

The blast furnace had been idled for about 10 days, and was to be reactivated this week. "However, the market conditions that led to the earlier decision haven't improved," said Bill Brake, Executive Vice President, Operations East. "We've decided that it's better long-term for the business and for the Weirton plant and its employees to use the next few days to prepare the equipment for a longer outage. We'll bring it back up when the market tells us that the time is right."

Based on the current outlook, Brake estimates an eight- to 10-week outage, starting Wednesday. The outage will be shorter or longer depending on the company's close monitoring of the climate for Weirton's products. The company already had planned on a plantwide vacation for the last week of July.

While a small crew will stay on to keep the ironmaking and steelmaking equipment ready for a quick return, Brake said about 700 employees will be laid off. "Everyone in the company and the union understands the impact that a decision like this has on the employees and our community," said Mark Glyptis, President of the Independent Steelworkers Union at Weirton.

During the outage, Weirton will continue to manufacture and process product for its customers using slabs provided by other Mittal Steel USA operations.

Mittal Steel Co. is the world's most global steel company. Formed from the combination of Ispat International NV and LNM Holdings NV, the company has operations in 14 countries, on four continents. Mittal Steel encompasses all aspects of modern steelmaking, to produce a comprehensive portfolio of both flat and long steel products. Mittal Steel's strategy is to enhance long-term shareholder value both by continuously strengthening its position as a low-cost, high quality steel producer and by continuing to play an integral role in a globally diverse steel industry. For 2004, Mittal Steel had revenues of $22.2 billion and steel shipments of 42.1 million tons.

Mittal Steel’s Weirton, W.Va., facility had been purchased out of bankruptcy by International Steel Group, which was purchased by Mittal Steel earlier this year.