MMK Group completes RUB 3 billion environmental project
Shlakservis (part of MMK Group) has completed the largest environmental project in its history: the construction of an anhydrous cooling facility for blast furnace slag. This new technology will completely eliminate the release of hydrogen sulphide and cut atmospheric dust emissions in half. The cost of the project, undertaken as part of MMK’s Clean City strategic initiative, amounted to around RUB 3 billion.
Pig iron production in blast furnaces creates slag that can reach temperatures of up to 1,400 degrees Celsius. The slag can be used to make crushed stone, pumice and granulated slag, but it first needs to be cooled. Previously, water was used for cooling, a method that releases significant amounts of hydrogen sulphide and dust. With the opening of the new facility, water will no longer be used, greatly reducing the company’s environmental impact.
“This new facility will enable us to reduce atmospheric pollutant emissions by about 100 tonnes per year and to completely eliminate hydrogen sulphide emissions. The slag will cool to the ambient temperature, after which it will be broken up by excavators and transported for further processing. It is important to note that we will minimise dust generation during this process, as our vehicles are equipped with dust suppression systems. This is the largest environmental project in our history, putting us on par with the most advanced and environmentally friendly production facilities in the world,” said Sergey Masyanov, the Director of Shlakservis.
The opening of the facility created 49 new jobs. In total, 132 people work at the new facility, including crane and excavator operators, unloaders, maintenance technicians, electricians and power engineers.
Shlakservis was established in April 2005. The company processes all slag generated from MMK’s blast furnace, oxygen converter and electric steelmaking shops. At the company’s separation plants, metallic fractions are extracted from slag and returned to the steelmaking plant, essential materials for construction and metallurgy are produced in the mould flux unit, and gangue material is used for the reclamation of MMK’s depleted pits.