Air quality in Magnitogorsk improves twofold
The CAQI for the city of Magnitogorsk for the first nine months of 2019 stood at 7.62, compared to 13.4 for the same period in 2017. The data is obtained from air quality observation stations belonging to the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) and MMK. Readings are conducted using Roshydromet methodology).
A number of MMK’s environmental projects have contributed to the sharp increase in air quality:
• Launch of the new sinter plant No. 5 in July of 2019 (RUB 30 bln). The plant is equipped with the latest environmental technologies, helping cut dust emissions in half (by 2.1 ths tonnes per year), sulphur dioxide emissions by four times (by 3.5 ths tonnes per year) and benzo(a)pyrene emissions by 16 times.
• Construction of aspirations systems at blast furnaces No.9, No. 10 and No.1 took place in 2017-2018, reducing dust emissions by a total of 1.14 ths tonnes per year.
In 2017, reconstruction of the sinter plant's sulphur recovery facilities improved the efficiency of air purification by up to 95%. Total investment in the project amounted to RUB 3.5 bln.
• Implementation of the programme to reduce dust and gas emissions during coke production reduced the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene by 22% during the first nine months of the year.
Chairman of the MMK Board of Directors Victor Rashnikov said:
"MMK has undertaken a number of major initiatives over many years to improve air quality in Magnitogorsk. We are confident of achieving the goal set out in our 2025 strategy of reducing the CAQI for Magnitogorsk to under 5, corresponding to the definition of a ‘Clean City’.”
Two key projects of MMK's investment programme will help to achieve the targeted CAQI reading: construction of the new coke oven No.12, designed to replace five old units, will contribute to a radical reduction in total air emissions, while the construction of new blast furnace No.11 will be equipped with advanced air purification systems. MMK’s environmental projects were included in the Clean Air programme of the national Ecology project outlined by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In 2018, Magnitogorsk was removed from the list of cities with the most polluted air, according to a report by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. The authors of the study indicated that in 2018 the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in the city more than halved.
MMK spent more than RUB 58 bln on environmental activities from 2000 to 2018. By 2025, MMK plans to allocate more than RUB 38 bln for new environmental projects.