THE BlueScope Steel factory at Hastings damaged by fire on May 13 could be operating in six weeks, says general manager Aimee Allen.
The fire destroyed four huge plastic tanks containing dilute hydrochloric acid and sections of the roof in the pickle line factory, stopping production of steel products such as flat iron for buildings.
The pickle factory, a three-storey building 360 metres long, is between the hot strip mill and the cold rolling mill at the plant in Bayview Road. Its acid tanks are used to remove impurities from 25-millimetre-thick steel before it's rolled even thinner into flat steel sheeting including Colorbond and Zincalume products.
On Monday, BlueScope told the Australian Stock Exchange it would cost $20million to $25million to fix the pickle line and damage would be between $7million and $10million.
"A one-off pre-tax cash earnings impact of between $7million to $11million is expected, principally relating to foregone sales and additional transport costs associated with alternative production sourcing," it stated.
At a briefing with local newspaper reporters on Friday, Ms Allen said the company was moving heaven and earth to get the pickle line operating and get people back to work.
"Our board, employees, shareholders, suppliers and customers depend on us. We are bringing four decommissioned pickle tanks from Port Kembla that are less than 10 years old."
Two arrived on the weekend and two were scheduled to arrive this week, Ms Allen said on Monday. Installing the tanks and restarting the production line was the No.1 priority, she said, "even if it means throwing tarpaulins over the damaged roof. We'll worry about rebuilding the roof later".
It is still not known how the blaze started and investigations are continuing, but Ms Allen said it began in or near the acid tanks shortly after midnight on Wednesday, May 13.
"The tanks bore the full brunt of the fire and we speculate they fed the fire," Ms Allen said.
At the height of the blaze, about 140CFA volunteers from brigades across the peninsula and south-east used 14water-pumping tankers and a snorkel, which enabled firefighters to pour water on the burning roof.
The fire was contained about 5.30am. About 80 BlueScope workers and people from the nearby Esso refinery were evacuated. Ms Allen, an American who has held senior management positions with BlueScope and other steelmakers, said she was happy with the way the fire was handled.
"Our safety plans worked well, but we will review the incident. All our activities are subject to a continuous process of review," she said.
"Our safety plans worked well, but we will review the incident.
BlueScope has stated it has sufficient stock to maintain supply of most products produced at the Western Port mill. Ms Allen said BlueScope had "Western Port-type plants" at Springhill in Port Kembla and in New Zealand.
The company employees 950 at Hastings, plus about 300 working for contractors. Pickle line workers had been paid to not come to work after the fire and she hoped work could be found for most of them while the factory was being repaired.
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