MMK shares modernisation plans for coke production facilities

Representatives of PJSC Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) took part in the eighth international conference “Coking Industry: Status and Outlook”, organised by the Coking Association and the journal Eurasian Metals.

Personnel from Russia’s leading metallurgical companies and international guests discussed the state of affairs in the coking industry and the challenges faced by coke chemists in the current environment. In addition, they visited MMK’s existing coke production facilities as well as facilities under construction.

Dmitry Melikhov, head of MMK’s chemical product recovery and processing shop, told the conference about measures the Company has already taken to develop the shop. Equipment upgrades have solved production problems, improved working conditions for the shop’s chemists and also played a major role in resolving environmental issues. In 2015, a closed coke oven gas cooling system was installed on unit 1, eliminating emissions from the cooling towers. In 2018, a new tar desliming station was put into operation in the shop’s chemical product processing section, replacing outdated equipment in unit 2. In 2020, a naphthalene rectification unit was launched, replacing the naphthalene crystallisation station. In 2023, the commissioning of a new mechanical and biochemical wastewater treatment plant got under way.

Sergey Muzafarov, MMK’s deputy head of production, told the conference about the Company’s plans for the development of its coke production facilities. MMK’s biggest investment project at present is the construction of coke plant No. 12, which will have a capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of dry coke per year. The general contractor responsible for the construction is Sinosteel Equipment & Engineering Co., Ltd. (China)

The launch of coke plant No. 12 will enable the Company to decommission outdated coke plants on a phased basis and reduce gross atmospheric emissions by 11.35 thousand tonnes per year.