Bolivia is on its way to completing its inaugural steel complex, with 75% of the civil works already finished.
The authorities anticipate that by 2024, the facility will initiate steel production and open new employment avenues, according to Julio Alvarado, the president of Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún (ESM).
The upcoming industrial facility, entailing an investment of US$546 million, is positioned within the Mutún iron reserve in the Santa Cruz region, towards the country’s east, near the Brazilian border.
At the core of this steel complex are the iron concentration and direct reduction units, steelmaking, rolling, and a power station.
Bolivia’s Minister of Mining, Marcelino Quispe, emphasizing the project’s significance, pointed out that it’s expected to create over 700 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect roles.
The Empresa Sinérgica del Mutún recently revealed plans to produce about 200,000 tons of steel annually in a phased manner starting in 2024.
This announcement followed the arrival and commencement of the assembly of key industrial reactors and other components in the country.
Currently, Bolivia relies on imports for its steel requirements, procuring around 450,000 tons annually from nations like Peru, Argentina, and Brazil.
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