BOF upgrade hikes NLMK output, reduces emissions

NLMK has completed the environmental modernisation of steel production at its Lipetsk site, the company says.

The warranty tests confirmed that dust emissions at BOFshop No.2, which accounts for more than 60% of the total steel production at the site, have been reduced by 2.5 times. 

The upgrade made it possible to increase the productivity of the shop by 15% to 10 million tonnes/year of steel, while simultaneously reducing the impact on the environment, Kallanish notes. Total investments amounted to over RUB 29 billion ($398 million).

Within the framework of the project, two converters and gas exhaust ducts were reconstructed, and a new gas cleaning system was installed. This allows to capture up to 99.9% of dust.

This project is part of a four-sided agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental development between NLMK, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Rosprirodnadzor and the Lipetsk Region Administration, signed in the summer of 2019. To date, Lipetsk has implemented five of the nine projects planned until 2024.

As part of the comprehensive environmental modernisation, it also became possible to use co-gases from the steelmaking industry as a secondary energy resource for generating electricity at the new power plant, NLMK says. The launch of the power plant in 2023 will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 650,000 t/y.

NLMK expects Russian demand will stay supported in the third quarter on seasonal demand, boosted also by infrastructure projects (see Kallanish passim). The group’s Q2 consolidated revenue grew 44% on-quarter to $4.14 billion, with sales in NLMK’s home markets rising 1% to 2.8mt.

Svetoslav Abrossimov Bulgaria