Small and Sick

of ingot steel is very high in all the integrated steel plants due to obsolete technology, in adequate maintenance and run-down equipment. It is between 1,100 and 2,200 kg per tonne of ingot steel. Even the lowest figure is inordinately high. We had commented in these columns (January 3-10) that this is the social cost the economy has to bear for the continuance of obsolete technology and non-replacement of plant and equipment in time.