MMK Invests Record RUB 30 Bln in Environmental Programme in 2022
Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works (MMK) invested approximately RUB 30 billion (almost USD 440 Mln) in environmental protection measures and implementation of its Environmental Programme last year, including nearly RUB 20 billion for the construction of large-scale environmental protection facilities.
MMK’s Environmental Programme for 2022 was guided by the Company’s targets and encompassed 46 projects across its core focus areas: 24 of them were completed during the year, with work on the remaining 22 set to continue in 2023-2024.
Key areas of environmental investment included the construction of new environmental protection facilities as part of a large-scale reconstruction and modernisation of MMK’s production complex; projects to reduce emissions into the air and water; as well as waste management initiatives and land reclamation projects.
In 2022, the bulk of funds was directed at measures to reduce air emissions (RUB 19.5 billion, including RUB 18.7 billion for construction). Key projects included the reconstruction of the dust and gas recovery systems and gas discharge ducts at converters Nos. 1, 2 and 3, as well as the pig-iron overflow section in the oxygen converter workshop and the reconstruction of gas scrubbers and gas discharge ducts in the electric arc furnaces in the electric steelmaking shop. In addition, MMK carried out the reconstruction of absorption systems Nos. 4 and 8 on sulphur recovery unit No. 2 in the sinter shop and the modernisation of sinter mixers Nos. 10 and 11 in sinter plant No. 3. Dust suppression systems were also put into operation in the stock houses of blast furnaces Nos. 1 and 2 and railcar dumpers Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the sinter mix preparation shop, with dust suppression efficiency exceeding 80%.
Significant investments were also made for the construction of new environmental structures as part of the extensive modernisation of MMK’s coke production facilities, including the construction of coke plant No. 12, as well as the reconstruction of its biochemical plant and its chemical product recovery and processing plant.
The implementation of MMK Group’s Environmental Programme in 2022 reduced gross air emissions by more than 20 thousand tonnes (11%) and gross discharges into bodies of water by nearly 500 tonnes (3%). The Company processed all 5.4 million tonnes of currently accumulated smelter slag at specialised plants, and decreased the volume of slag dumps by 6.5 million tonnes. MMK also completed the technical stage of its reclamation of the Western quarry of Magnitnaya Mountain, covering an area of 7 hectares.
In addition, MMK continued its work to conserve and develop the biological diversity of its territory and the surrounding areas. Notably, the Company planted 826 trees and 4,449 shrubs to restore the landscape and green MMK’s industrial site, as well as planting 1,915 new trees in Magnitogorsk and stocking the Magnitogorsk reservoir with fish (30 thousand white amur and 50 thousand silver carp).