It is reported that Brazilian steel maker Usina Siderúyrgica do Pará is studying the possibility, in partnerships with China’s Minmetals, of increasing its pig iron production from 500,000 to 1.5 million tonnes. For the third quarter of 2009, Usipar expects a new furnace to go into production, which is to be built in partnership with Minmetals and pig iron production will increase to 1 million tons.

As per report the Chinese company and Companhia Siderúrgica do Pará are currently working on a new study, which is to be concluded by the end of next month, and aims to increase production to 1.5 million tonnes within a period as yet to be decided.

As well as projects to increase pig iron production, the two companies are working on sinter plant of 800,000 tonnes capacity. Chinese experts are currently at the Usipar unit, in Pará state in northern Brazil, to supervise the transfer of technology and installation of the equipment.

Mr Luis Guilherme Monteiro financial and new business director of Cospiar said that the study also outlined the start of steel production. He said that "The partnership is in the process of being studied, equipment specification and surveying investment.” He added that “As it is a bigger investment, we need a more detailed study.”

Cosipar's partnership with Minmetals began some five years ago when the Chinese company began supplying production equipment, in the north of Brazil, for pig iron, the raw materials used, amongst other things, to make steel.