MMK Prepares to Launch First Phase of New Coke Plant
Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) has begun preparations to launch the first phase of a new coke plant as part of a large-scale effort to reduce emissions into the environment. At present, the Company has begun the drying and preheating of unit No. 3 as part of the construction of coke plant No. 12. The unit is expected to be ready this summer, alongside unit No. 4, as part of the first phase of the plant.
Following the completion of the refractory brickwork on both units, unit No. 3 has been prepared for drying and preheating, including the installation of permanent and temporary gas pipelines from the second collection unit in the plant’s chemical product recovery and processing shop. While necessary equipment continues to be installed at unit No. 4, pre-commissioning work has begun on unit No. 3 with the preheating of the refractory brickwork: the temperature will be increased gradually over several months to ensure uniform heating. Afterwards, the coking furnaces will be loaded, followed by coke delivery.
The project also envisages the construction of three dry coke quenching units, beginning at unit No. 3, where the quenching chambers have already been prepared and installation work is under way. The construction of other facilities at coke plant No. 12 continues, including the coal preparation and coke screening units as well as the plant’s first and second units, which are expected to be commissioned in 2024 as part of the second phase of the project.
MMK’s main goal in modernising its coke and chemical production facilities is to drastically reduce its environmental impact and meet the objectives under the Federal Clean Air Project. The launch of coke plant No. 12 with a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of dry coke per year, followed by the decommissioning of obsolete coke production capacities, will reduce gross atmospheric emissions by 11.35 thousand tonnes per year, while CO2 emissions will decrease by 2.2 million tonnes per year.