ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih has started hot tests of coke oven battery No. 6, the newest in technology of stamp charging and the first of its kind in Ukraine. Adjustment and pre-commissioning works are in progress, coking chambers have been charged and first trial coke has been successfully produced at coke shop No. 1 of the coke plant. Total amount of ArcelorMittal investment in the project was $128 million and including its twin COB No. 5 which is to be completed this year, would be ca. $170 million.
Additional production of in-house coke and coke oven gas is the main target of this investment project, which will allow decreasing the volume of purchased coke and natural gas. Expected benefit of the project is production of 6% humidity coke in the volume of 1060 KT per year for blast furnaces of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih”. Within the project of construction of COB No. 5 and 6 numerous environmental actions were implemented as well, due to that air pollutant emissions are expected to be decreased by 1.6 KT per year.
Implementation of this project at PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih” will allow creating above 200 of new working places in the company. Stage-by-stage recruitment of people has been ongoing since 2016 on competition basis.
PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih” conducts the construction of new coke oven batteries of increased operating capacity with the oven volume of 35.8 cubic meters with the implementation of smoke-free stamp charging technology. The stamp charging process means that coal is being processed into briquettes outside the coke oven. After that, coal cake with almost the same dimensions as the oven chamber is being charged into the oven. Stamp charging technology increases the bulk density of the blend by 30-35% and the productivity of the oven increases respectively by 10-12%. Moreover, the stamp charging technology allows using lower quality coking coal, improving the quality of produced coke and increasing the yield in coke production.
Paramjit Kahlon, Chief Executive Officer of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih”: AMKR is the only steel company over the world that is recently building two completely new coke oven batteries, including implementation of new pre-stamping technology and smoke-free blend charging. This technology will allow reducing the cost and improving quality of our products, as well as increasing coke strength after reaction up to 55-60%. The project on construction of coke oven batteries No. 5-6 and infrastructure facilities of coke shop No. 1 includes modernization of equipment taking into account the environment requirements, as well as occupational safety, energy and economic efficiency. This will help us transform PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih” into a modern production plant with the best international practices”.
The project on construction of coke oven batteries No. 5-6 at coke plant is one of the key one within the large-scale investment program of PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih”. Total investment amount at PJSC “ArcelorMittal Kriviy Rih” by 2020 and further comprises $1.2-1.5 billion. (AMKR/Ukrainian metal)