Brazil’s Gerdau S.A. plans to expand steel production capacity at its Santa Cruz-based Cosigua mill by 50% to 1.8 million tons/year. In addition, a new wire rod and rebar rolling mill with annual capacity of 1.1 million tons will be installed. The investment project, which will create 550 direct and 3,000 indirect job opportunities, will be executed in two phases. The first phase will involve expansion of production capacity at the melt shop, which is expected to be operational by 2012, and start-up of the new wire rod and rebar rolling mill in 2013.

A new rebar fabricating facility will also be installed during the first phase. In the second phase, the rolling mill will start operating at an installed capacity of 1.1 million tons, which is expected to reach 2.6 million tons by the end of the phase. The company will also work toward expansion of the mill’s dedusting system. The second phase should be completed by 2016.