[ferro-alloys.com]Tata Steel Thailand expects to restore an electric arc furnace at Map Ta Phut, Rayong, to full operations in about two weeks after it was hit by an explosion on October 6, the steelmaker said late Wednesday.

"Downstream rolling mill operations are running normal," it said. "The work to bring back the steel plant to normal operation has started. Repair of the machine and damaged roof has begun."

The explosion occurred at 8:15 am local time (0115 GMT) on October 6 when the electric arc furnace was warming up after relining, the company said.

Siam Construction Steel, a subsidiary of Tata Steel Thailand, operates the furnace.

Tata Steel Thailand, is the largest domestic producer of long steel products with 1.7 million mt/year of production capacity.

• [Editor:王可]