Russian group Mechel, which owns the plants Mechel Câmpia Turzii, Mechel Târgovişte, Ductil Steel Oţelu Roşu, Ductil Steel Buzău, Laminorul Brăila and Mechel Reparaţii Târgovişte, is showing signs that it wants to withdraw from Romania, said Ioan Pascu, the president of the Wire Industry Union in Câmpia Turzii.
"My opinion is that Mechel wants to withdraw from Romania and to sell everything. All of their actions lead to this hypothesis. They are turning down orders, even though, paradoxically, they are complaining about their lack of customers. The Cluj prefect, Ioan Vuşcan, called several companies which use metal and scheduled a meeting for September 5th, so Mechel can conclude contracts with them. We don't know, however, if the representatives of Mechel will attend that meeting. On the other hand, they are announcing new layoffs".
Since the privatization of the "Industria Sârmei Câmpia Turzii" ("Wire Industry of Câmpia Turzii") plant in 2003, and until the present time, out of the 16 divisions, less than half have remained operational, says Ioan Pascu.
The machinery has been cut to pieces and sold as scrap metal or disassembled and sent to Russia, the union leader says, and he went on to say: "Two years ago they disassembled a machine and they transported it to Russia. Our specialists reassembled it there".
Other signs that could indicate that Mechel may withdraw from Romania is the fact that the other companies in Romania have either been shut down, or are operating at reduced capacity, the union leader emphasized:
"According to my information, at Mechel Târgovişte only the steel mill and two rolling mills are still active, which represents about 30-40% of the plant's capacity. Apparently, Ductil Steel Buzău is currently operating at 50% capacity, and Laminorul Brăila (Brăila Steel Mill) is no longer working, because it has run out
