Stoilensky, a part of NLMK Group, an international steel company with operations in Russia, the European Union and the USA, produced its six-millionth ton of pellets in the lead up to 2018.
One of the largest pelletizing plants in Europe was launched at Stoilensky in November 2016. Having reached design capacity of 6 million tons of pellets per year in June 2017, the plant began to supply over 500,000 tons of 64.8% Fe pellets (in line with the project parameters) to NLMK Lipetsk every month.
Sergey Napolskikh, Stoilensky General Director, said: “Six million tons of pellets is a testimony to the success of NLMK Group’s key Strategy 2017 investment project. Maintaining the current productivity of the induration furnace in 2018 we plan to produce 6.4 million tons of pellets. We are planning a further 20% expansion of this capacity down the line to reach 7.2 million tons of pellets per year. Achieving the set goals will enable us to supply NLMK Group’s future growth projects with low cost raw materials.”
Stoilensky’s pelletizing plant, NLMK Group’s largest investment project, was executed in two years. Construction of the plant began in 2014 and was completed in November 2016. It required a total investment of around $680 million (34 billion rubles).
The best available technology and equipment was selected during the design phase. The largest horizontal grate induration furnace in Europe ensures the plant’s high performance at 780 tons of pellets produced per hour. The Stoilensky pelletizing plant is the first in the Russian metals and mining industry to use high-efficiency hyperbaric filters to remove fluid during the processing of ore.
The concept behind the design of the pelletizing plant is that of an environmentally friendly, waste-free facility, in which waste charge material and captured dust are fully recycled. A high efficiency dedusting system captures up to 98% of emissions.
The launch of the pelletizer that is of strategic importance for NLMK Group enabled the company to consolidate its position as one of the most efficient steelmakers in the world by supplying its blast furnaces with low cost captive raw materials. (NLMK/Ukrainian metal)