AHMSA bankruptcy faces equipment recovery and high repair costs

The bankruptcy process of Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA) faces new complexities as creditors attempt to recover machinery located at the Monclova facilities. Businessman Carlos Elizondo stated that the removal of equipment by third parties, such as Trinity and Montacargas Bravo, should not impact the company's valuation provided the owners can legally prove ownership through proper documentation.

Simultaneously, experts warn that restarting AHMSA's operations will require massive investment due to severe infrastructure deterioration. Following nearly four years of inactivity, the facilities have suffered from lack of maintenance, abandonment, and vandalism. Rodrigo Aliphat Rodríguez of CIDE noted that the prolonged paralysis makes it difficult for potential bidders to possess the necessary financial capacity for reactivation.

Internal sources and union leaders report catastrophic structural damage, including thermal issues in vital equipment like the coke oven and Blast Furnace 5 caused by abrupt cooling. Some estimates suggest that reconstructing just the coke oven could cost up to $300 million, adding significant burden to the $1.3 billion base price set for the asset auction.