Mariupol Ilyich Iron and Steel Works and Azovstal of Metinvest Group have been increasing their expenses on environmental projects for several years. In 2018 the green investments have grown 5.6-fold, to UAH 600 million.
Financing increases progressively as the group switches from designing to constructing gas treatment facilities. In particular, investments in construction, upgrade and maintenance of environmental facilities have raised from UAH 106.4 million in 2017 to UAH 600 million in 2018.
Excellent progress in design works and availability of equipment offered by producers have helped Azovstal accelerate its environmental modernization efforts.
“We started laying foundations this August and will build a state-of-the-art purification system in the hot metal desulfurization shop as soon as in 2019. This is one year ahead of schedule, because the necessary equipment became available and we managed to contract it,” said Azovstal CEO Enver Tskitishvili.
According to Taras Shevchenko, the CEO of Mariupol Ilyich Iron and Steel Works, preparations are underway to start construction of a new gas treatment system at converter No. 3. Modern purification facilities have already been installed at other two converters. Moreover, modern Italian cyclones for flue gas treatment have also been installed in sintering zones of ten sinter machines and in cooling zones of three sinter machines. Three of twelve sinter machines have the second degree of dust extraction activated. The sinter plant accounts for up to 80% of the mill’s emissions. A stepwise launch of filters at all twelve sinter machines in 2019 and 2020 will help reduce emissions twofold.
The steel mills will continue informing Mariupol authorities and communities about their environmental initiatives and answer questions publicly to prevent any politicization of the environmental issues and discredit of the public dialogue. Upon initiative of Mariupol mayor Vadym Boichenko, the next public meeting and discussion is to take place in two weeks. (SCM/Ukrainian metal)