According to Primetals Technologies, which held the contract for the project, the work entailed replacement of a furnace shell ring, cooling elements inside the shell, and the downcomer; partial replacement of the carbon hearth refractories; and shell modifications and general lining repairs.

Primetals Technologies was responsible for engineering, planning, equipment and material supply, as well as demolition and installation, all of which were carried out during an outage last year. 

“Tata Steel and Primetals Technologies, together with their sub-contractors, worked together to deliver the program scope in a professional manner, ensuring safety and security to the daily tasks," Primetals Technologies said in a statement.

"Primetals Technologies was involved in design of the replacement parts, stress analysis of these items, lifting stress calculations, construction engineering, construction planning, temporary works calculations and all other tasks necessary to follow the British construction design and management regulations, in addition to the daily management of the works site,” it said.

The project began in September, and the furnace was relit in January. 

At the time of the outage, the furnace had run for 15 years and produced approximately 30 million metric tons of iron, Primetals Technologies said. The blast furnace is one of two at the Port Talbot works.