 Rational for the venture was to utilise NLMK's excess upstream steel production in the joint venture's downstream plants.In 2011 the SIF joint venture was terminated, with Durferco keeping the long products activities including the EAF, whilst NLMK kept the flat products operations - at La Louviere the plant was split between the two businesses, with Duferco to supply the NLMK part of the plant with slabs in the short term (200,000 tons pa for 3 years.