Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK), a Lipetsk-based steel producing company, declared that it has allocated around RUR4.14 billion in 2010 for implementing ecological conservation projects at its main manufacturing site located in Lipetsk. The company has spent approximately RUR100 million year-on-year.
The company used the best available technologies (BAT) at its manufacturing facility that drastically cut down the ecological effects from its BOF operations. The average release of undesirable emissions from the site was reduced by around 20% while the company achieved 9.2% growth in its steel production. NLMK accomplished reduced emission levels by rebuilding its BOF off-gas ducts along with an additional emission collecting and cleaning system and by enhancing the BOF metal heating process. The new slag temperature reduction technology has cut down the atmospheric emissions by 50%, thus bettering the ecosystems and the living surroundings of the local communities.
The company continues to invest in technologies that save resources and benefit the ecology. Its new Heat & Power Plant for BF-7 will enable total retrieval of metallurgical gasses for electricity production and the furnace utilized for such use will incorporate eco-friendly equipment.
The ecological initiatives of the company enabled it to cut down its emission levels by 1,400 tons and to reduce more than 500,000 tons of industrial waste. The corrective steps also allowed the company to reduce its fresh water usage from the Voronezh River by 11.1 million m3. The company also refurbished its processed water supply system to achieve zero release of industrial wastewater.