MMK: 90 years and still firing on all cyclinders
Today, the flagship of the Russian iron and steel industry, Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works, is celebrating its 90th anniversary.
On 1st February 1932, the first Magnitogorsk blast furnace produced its first cast iron. This date is now recognised as the birthday of Company, which has left a lasting legacy in the country’s history and continues to make a significant contribution to the country’s economy meeting the needs of the core sectors of Russian industry.
Over 90 years, the plant has produced 663 million tonnes of cast iron, 856 million tonnes of steel and 706 million tonnes of rolled steel. “Behind these figures is the rich and illustrious history of our country, and the work of several generations of Magnitogorsk’s metal workers. Their skill and devotion helped Magnitogorsk earn the title of ‘City of Labour Valour’”, noted Victor Rashnikov, MMK’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, in his congratulatory address to the metal workers at Magnitogorsk. He continued, “today, MMK is rightfully ranked among the largest metallurgical companies in both Russia and the world, successfully addressing manufacturing, environmental and social challenges, while also carrying out unique large-scale projects and looking to the future with confidence”.
Over the past two decades, MMK has carried out long-term technical upgrade programmes, aimed at modernising existing production facilities and building new ones focused on the production of high-margin products. Throughout these years, state-of-the-art, high-capacity facilities have been built at the plant, enabling the Company to become a leader in the manufacturing of steel products for the country’s pipe, automotive and shipbuilding industries, and to take a leading position on the premium product market.
Nowadays, MMK is implementing it’s long-term Development Strategy until 2025, with a strong emphasis on developing customer service, improving operational and functional efficiency, implementing its digitalisation strategy and strengthening various aspects of sustainable development, above all regarding the environmental agenda.
According to Viktor Rashnikov, MMK’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, construction of the plant’s most powerful blast furnace, blast furnace No.11, is due to be completed in 2025. It will have a production capacity of 3.7 million tonnes of cast iron per year and will be built using the most advanced technology and in compliance with the latest environmental standards. The commissioning of the furnace will allow for three old blast furnaces to be taken out of operation. This, together with the positive environmental impact of the new sinter plant No.5 and coke oven battery No.12, will enable the Company to achieve its key environmental goal of reducing the integrated atmospheric pollution index in Magnitogorsk to 5 units, which will comply with the ‘Clean City’ status.
In addition to this, MMK pays particular attention to climate change issues and plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per tonne of steel by 2025. Among other things, this will be supported by the introduction of ‘syngas’ (synthesis gas) technology in the new blast furnace No.11, which facilitates decarbonisation.