Construction has recommenced at the EMPRESA SIDERúRGICA DEL MUTúN Steelworks in Bolivia.

Parties including CISDI signed a re-start agreement in March.

The steelworks applies blast furnace-based technological processes. It is the first of its kind in Bolivia and is a major BRI Initiative project in South America.

With a projected annual production capacity of 194,000 tonnes, the steelworks will meet the country’s needs for long products, greatly reducing the need to import steel.

CISDI is providing total process engineering consulting for ESM.

The President of Bolivia, Luis Alberto Arce, attended the restart ceremony and commented, “ESM has a bright future in steel and is significant to our national economy. We are excited to see its re-start and will work together to ensure its operation by the end of 2023.

“Its production will boost our economies and will achieve industrialisation of our rich mineral reserves.”

Other government officials present at the event included the Minister of Bolivia’s Mining Department, the Mayor of Puerto Suárez City and members of Santa Cruz and German Busch Province.

The CISDI team has been onsite since the beginning of the global outbreak of COVID-19. Team members were invited to the meeting, and are fully committed to their construction supervision tasks.

The president of Bolivia, Mr Luis Alberto Arce, delivers his speech at the ESM Steelworks restart ceremony

CISDI’s Engineering Consulting Team at the ceremony (the two engineers are pictured on the right)