ELECTRICAL FURNACE IN SISAK IRONWORKS HEATED UP

SISAK, Feb 14 (Hina) - A representative of Russia's "Mechel", the director of the "Conares Balkan" company, Nazibul Muhatdinov, reported on Friday that the electrical furnace of Sisak Ironworks' steelworks had been heated up for the first time in five and a half months. The first amount of steel will be produced on March 1. #L# "Conares Balkan" on Wednesday called 40 workers, locksmiths and electricians from maintenance who were on standby. They are currently preparing the furnace. Another 45 workers will be called by the end of the month to begin production in other sectors of the iron plant, Muhatdinov told reporters. "The most important thing is that we have started functioning, that 40 workers will be given their earned wages from which more than 100 members of their families will be able to live," he said. The plans are that the ironworks produce some 10,000 tonnes of steel per month after the first six months. This is a "very serious financial and technological task which Mechel will fulfil in accordance with the production plan," he said. (hina) lml