LONDON — An investigation into a fire at ArcelorMittal SA’s Aktau steel works in Kazakhstan will officially be opened Feb. 27, the company told AMM sister publication Steel First Feb. 26.

The fire began Feb. 22 at one of the plant’s power substations (amm.com, Feb. 25).

Output at the coating line and laboratory was temporarily halted after the fire, but operations in unaffected areas—such as the tubular line—continue as normal.

The probe by a government commission comprised of representatives from the Ministry for Emergencies, the State Department for Labor and Social Protection, and ArcelorMittal Aktau will last up to 10 days.

"This is the first incident at our company in almost seven years since we started operations," chief executive officer Zhenis Utegenov said. "The company will provide 1.5 million tenge ($9,830) as compensation for loss of the breadwinner and about 1 million tenge as additional assistance."