PJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works’ (MMK) new hi-tech sinter plant, the second stage of which is scheduled for commissioning in the near future, is expected to add an additional c. $40 million to the company’s EBITDA per year. In addition to the increased productivity, the unit should significantly decrease MMK’s environmental impact. The news was shared with investors at the international Global Metals, Mining & Steel conference in Barcelona, organized by Bank of America Merrill Lynch. MMK’s delegation was led by CEO Pavel Shilyaev.
Sinter plant No. 5 has a capacity of up to 5.5 million tons of high-quality raw materials per year. Agglomerate with higher iron content allows to increase productivity and decrease coke consumption, thus the cost of producing pig iron using agglomerate from the new unit should decline by $8 per ton. The first stage of the sinter plant was commissioned in April.
The new unit will operate using the best available energy-saving technologies, which will significantly improve environmental safety. Emissions of dust into the atmosphere will be reduced by 2.1 thousand tons per year and sulfur dioxide emissions will be reduced by 3.5 thousand tons per year. In addition, the discharge of suspended solids into the water circulation supply system will be reduced by 600 tons per year and emissions of benzopyrene will be reduced by almost a quarter.
Construction of the new sinter plant is part of MMK’s large-scale investment strategy, which includes significant upgrades to the first processing stage. ММК has already started design works for the construction of a new coke battery, upon commissioning of which five existing batteries will be gradually decommissioned. MMK also plans to construct a new blast furnace, which will replace three existing ones. While implementing its investment program, MMK aims to further decrease production costs and improve the quality of its products, while focusing on environmental protection. (MMK/Ukrainian metal)