ArcelorMittal Mexico has reported that its Lázaro Cárdenas plant in the state of Michoacán continues operating as usual despite the city council’s move to shut it down partially last week.
Authorities from the city council of Lázaro Cárdenas had entered the plant on July 23 to carry out partial shutdown in operations alleging that the steelmaker lacked an operating license, had failed to comply with property tax updates and did not have an internal civil protection plan.
However, on the same day, ArcelorMittal México had issued a statement refuting these allegations and saying that it had paid the property tax.
The plant has not stopped operations and production is going as per plan, a spokesperson at ArcelorMittal Mexico told Davis Index on Monday. Moreover, the firm noted that on July 11, the fifth judge of the District of the State of Michoacán granted ArcelorMittal México protection against any act of closure by the city council.
About 21 workers at the Lázaro Cárdenas plant have died from COVID-19, according to a media outlet. The country has more than 390,516 cases, according to official figures on Monday, July 27.
ArcelorMittal Mexico produced 4mn mt of steel products in 2019. Of this amount, 80pc was sold in Mexico and 20pc exported, according to data from a media outlet.