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O'Flaherty: Good Relationship With South African Government Crucial
11/04/2015 - Paul O’Flaherty, CEO of ArcelorMittal South Africa Ltd., said his mandate from ArcelorMittal chairman Lakshmi Mittal was to “fix" the company’s operations in that country, O’Flaherty said in an interview with the BusinessDay newspaper.
“My number one aim … with the board’s approval, was to restore the reputation of the company. To make sure we can bridge the gaps of understanding with government because until we have done that, we are going to get no protection," O’Flaherty told the newspaper.
O’Flaherty, who was named in CEO in July 2014, said that he has been trying to rebuild a relationship with the government, necessary to secure trade protections for South Africa’s steel industry.
ArcelorMittal is the predominant producer in South Africa, holding about 70 percent of the market.
How long that continues to be the case remains to be seen. As the newspaper reported, the country’s Industrial Development Corporation re-affirmed plans to work with China’s Hebei Iron & Steel on a new steel works. The mill is to begin production in 2020, BusinessDay said.
O’Flaherty said it might take longer, perhaps seven to 15 years, for the mill to come on-line.
O’Flaherty, who was named in CEO in July 2014, said that he has been trying to rebuild a relationship with the government, necessary to secure trade protections for South Africa’s steel industry.
ArcelorMittal is the predominant producer in South Africa, holding about 70 percent of the market.
How long that continues to be the case remains to be seen. As the newspaper reported, the country’s Industrial Development Corporation re-affirmed plans to work with China’s Hebei Iron & Steel on a new steel works. The mill is to begin production in 2020, BusinessDay said.
O’Flaherty said it might take longer, perhaps seven to 15 years, for the mill to come on-line.
