Russian steelmaker invests heavily in the environment

Leading global steelmaker OJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) is planning to implement 72 environmental initiatives based on its 2015 Environmental Programme. The budget for such an exercise will cost the company an estimated 3.3 billion roubles (US$64 million) and will cover all the mill’s production plants and MMK Group entities.

The major projects are aimed at decreasing pollutant emissions and include renovation work on sulphur collecting units at the sintering plant, renovating the coke gas chilling cycle at block No 1 of the coke-chemical production facility, and initiatives focusing on electrical supervisor departments. Expenditure on air protection measures will amount to over 2.9 billion roubles (US$56 million) while the expected decrease in pollutant emissions will be over 13,000 tonnes in 2015.

Over 400 mln roubles (US$7.7 million) will be contribute towards decreasing water consumption, decreasing pollution discharge into water facilities and maintaining efficient operation of water circulation systems and water-treatment facilities, industrial waste utilisation and the re-cultivation of affected land.

MMK claims that it is ‘acutely aware of its responsibility to limit environmental impact within its area of influence’ and has placed ‘reducing negative environmental impact’ among its key strategic goals within its long-term sustainable development plan.

“This is affirmed by its Environmental Policy adopted by management, and by the certification of an environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001, issued by independent international certification organisation TUV NORD (Germany),” claims MMK.