STEEL & IRON INDUSTRY of libya
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STEEL & IRON INDUSTRY OF LIBYA.
The Libyan Iron and Steel Company (Lisco) is one of the largest iron and steelmaking companies operating in North Africa. Based in Misrata, it is subsidized and owned by the Libyan government. Lisco's foundation stone was officially laid on 18 September 19791.
Lisco has an annual production capacity of approximately 1,324,000 tons of liquid steel2. Although Libya has a natural supply of iron ore, due to the current inability to mine it, supplies of iron ore pellets are imported from Canada, Brazil and Sweden, for use as raw materials3.
In 1997, Lisco began production of hot-briquetted iron (HBI), a product achieved by reducing iron ore with natural gas. HBI can be used in electric arc furnaces or as a pre-material in blast furnaces, and has since become a major Libyan mineral export. Lisco has its own dedicated port from which it exports its products, and has built loading facilities capable of loanding HBI onto docked ships. Other Lisco products include reinforced steel, sponge iron, reinforced metal rods and steel iron coils. The majority of LISCO products are sold abroad, with Spain and Italy being two of the primary importers.
In 2019, Lisco started exporting its reinforced bars (rebars) to Algeria, and announced plans to ship 10,000 tonnes per month. However, due to the ongoing civil unrest, Lisco has had to endure temporary closures, due to lack of power and water supplies, caused by military action4.
LISCO
FOOTNOTES.
“Libyan Iron and Steel Company.” Brief. Accessed January 22, 2021. https://www.libyansteel.com/index.php/en/about-us/brief.
ibid.
Mobbs, Philip M. ‘The Mineral Industry of Libya’ (2001) p.19
Laessing, Ulf. “Exclusive: Libyan Steel Maker Plans $1 Billion Tender in July, Output Hike in 2019.” Reuters. Thomson Reuters, June 19, 2019. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-economysteelexclusive/exclusive-libyan-steel-maker-plans-1-billion-tender-in-july-output-hike-in2019-idUSKCN1TK176.