Siemens secures leading position in GCC

 In March this year, Siemens VAI Metals Technologies received a process technology supply contract from one of Gulf's leading steelmakers, Qatar Steel Company, for its new steel mill in Mesaieed, Qatar. This contract followed the SVC Plus static Var compensator order from Qatar Steel later in March.

Thomas Reh, Siemens VAI Sales Manager, provided further details on Siemens VAI's supply contract with Qatar Steel including its business in the Gulf region to International Metalworking News- Middle East (IMNE) in an e-mail interview.

IMNE: What does the order contract contain?

Reh: The order includes melting furnaces, a continuous billet caster and a dedusting plant. The plant systems were originally intended to replace old equipment in the existing steel mill, a project awarded to Siemens in summer 2010. Because of growing demand for steel in the Gulf region, the new equipment will now be installed in a newly constructed steel mill and is being designed for higher production capacity.

As a result of this expansion, the total contract volume has risen to a mid-range double-digit million euro figure. The new mill is designed for an annual billet production output of roughly 1.1 million tons and is scheduled to go into operation during the first quarter of 2013.

The project is being executed in a collaborative effort between Siemens VAI Metals Technologies and Siemens W.L.L. Qatar.

 IMNE: What about static Var compensation?

The SVC Plus static Var compensator order from Qatar Steel is for the new electric steel plant in Mesaieed. Siemens will construct a 110 tonne electric arc furnace, a 110 tonne ladle furnace, a five-strand continuous billet caster and the associated auxiliary equipment for the new electric steel production line.

Siemens will also install an SVC Plus static Var compensator, which will maintain the grid power quality required by the power supplier, i.e. it will prevent line harmonic distortions occurring during operation of the new melting plants. The power electronics in the plant will be based on IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) modules, with filter circuits specifically designed for electric arc furnace operation.

We have developed a state-of-the-art digital controller for monitoring and control purposes. A networked SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system will facilitate remote monitoring and visualization, not only of the static Var compensator and the infeed switchgear but also of the operating state of the electric arc furnace.

 IMNE: Tell us about the new steel mill in Mesaieed Industrial City

Reh: The new steel mill in Mesaieed Industrial City is being equipped by Siemens with a 110-tonne electric-arc furnace, a 110-tonne ladle furnace, a six-strand continuous billet caster and auxiliary plant systems, including a new dedusting plant in order to significantly reduce emissions from the steelmaking plant. The melting furnaces for the original modernisation project were designed for a capacity of only 95 tonnes. The new steel mill is characterised by low specific consumption in areas such as electrodes, electrical power and utilities.

IMNE: Please describe Siemens VAI Metals Technologies melting furnaces, billet caster, and dedusting. How are these equipments different from other green production lines offered by other companies?

 Reh: Due to the fact of our long term experience in electric steelmaking, we continuously improve our products in order  to reduce greenhouse emissionAir Jordan XII 12 Shoes