Veysel Yayan, Secretary General of the Turkish Steel Producers Association, said, “The Turkish steel industry is strong enough to meet all the construction iron required for earthquake houses.”
Veysel Yayan, Secretary General of the Turkish Steel Producers Association (TCUD), made evaluations about the earthquake houses that are planned to be built.
Stating that Turkiye is one of the world’s largest exporters of construction steel, Yayan stated that most of the organizations that were in the earthquake zone but suspended their operations for a while started to work. Yayan stated that there are 5 iron and steel factories in the disaster area, 3 of them are operational and the other 2 will be operational in a few days.
Explaining that it was stated that 4 million tons of rebar will be needed for earthquake dwellings in the first 4 months, Yayan said, “This period may be longer or the amount may be higher. Our sector has the capacity to meet the needed construction steel without any problems.”
Pointing out that the export connections of the sector will not affect this production process, Yayan said, “Let our export connections be affected if necessary. We will stop it if necessary. Our capacity is very high, but domestic demand is our first priority right now. The Turkish steel industry is strong enough to meet all the construction iron that Turkiye needs. It has the opportunity to fully meet the construction needs in the earthquake zone at reasonable prices. First priority will be given to the earthquake zone.”
Yayan added that there was an increase in construction steel prices after the earthquake, saying, “Using the cessation of Iskenderun Demir-Celik as an excuse, they are trying to load issues that are not related to Iskenderun. That place produces flat iron, it does not produce construction iron. There is no price increase without a justification.”
“Iron from the wreckage is recycled”
Yayan also evaluated the recycling process of the iron to be removed from the rubble of the buildings destroyed in the earthquake, and used the following statements:
“The iron products that come out of the wreckage are scrap, when they become scrap they are recycled in integrated facilities. After being melted, it performs the same function as the iron produced from ore. Scrap dealers collect the wrecked iron, then go to the market and sell it. They sell the transport to the nearest establishments. Organizations in need can also buy and recycle them. That iron wouldn’t be wasted. Scrap iron is also $450 a ton. No one wastes it.”
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz