Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol to invest another $20 million in environmental projects

According to the company’s website, Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol has ramped up the implementation of the project on reconstruction and construction of a gas-cleaning system of the blast furnace No. 3 worth $20 million.

The company is going to construct a new dry gas-cleaning unit for the cast yard of the blast furnace, as well as reconstruct the existing wet gas-cleaning unit for the bunker trestle.

Exhaust hoods will be constructed over the sources of gas and dust flows at the cast yard and the bunker trestle. The new gas ducting channels will facilitate offtaking of captured dust and gas flows. Impulse-type bag filters will enable precipitation of dust.

“As a result of reconstruction of the dust-cleaning system of the stock house and construction of the aspiration system of the cast yard of the blast furnace No. 3, our emissions into the atmosphere will be brought in line with not only Ukrainian environmental law, but also European standards,” said Taras Shevchenko, CEO of Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol.

According to him, the company intends to ultimately stop fugitive emissions from the blast furnace shop in 2021, following the launch of the new aspiration system at all blast furnaces.

The company has already awarded bag filters and fume extractors supply contracts. Presently, experts are examining the existing facilities and engineering structures of the blast furnace.

The project on reconstruction and construction of a gas-cleaning system of the furnace No. 3 is being implemented in the framework of the Mariupol Environment Protection and Rehabilitation Program for 2012–2020.

Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol is part of the Metinvest Group of which the major shareholders are the SKM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%).

As reported earlier, Metinvest invested more than UAH 1.4 billion in environmental protection in 2018.

In 2018, Metinvest doubled investment in modernization of its Mariupol plants.