KIEV, Dec. 21 – Ukraine's biggest mining and metallurgy group, Metinvest, has decided to mothball the sinter plant at its Azovstal steel mill and move production to the sinter plant of the Illich iron & steel mill, said Metinvest Holding CEO Ihor Syry.

Both steelmakers are located in the city of Mariupol.

The decisions to mothball the Azovstal sinter plant and begin modernizing the Illich sinter plant "were made above all based on the interests of Mariupol residents," Syry said at a meeting with environmentalists and representatives of Mariupol City Council's ad hoc group on Thursday.

"[The decisions] were approved by shareholders and supported by them as the most optimal in terms of the interests of the public. This is a concrete step toward normalizing the environmental situation in the city as part of the long-term investment program at Metinvest steel mills in Mariupol," Syry said.