Northern Mining intends to replace natural gas with solid biofuel

The Northern Mining and Processing Plant (Northern GOK) of the Metinvest Group plans to implement the technology of replacing natural gas with solid biofuel. This is reported by Interfax-Ukraine.

The company intends to replace the use of natural gas with crushed sunflower husks. For this, it is planned to install a complex of structures and equipment that will be connected to the LURGI-552 A and B roasting machines without making significant changes to the existing equipment.

At the same time, it is indicated that the new construction of a complex of facilities for the supply of biofuel is expected to be carried out at the industrial site of Northern GOK. The terms of the project’s implementation and the amount of its costs are not disclosed.

As GMK Center reported earlier, Northern GOK has completed the repair of the electrofilter on the LURGI 552B roasting machine. Specialists performed revision of deposition hammers and coronal electrodes, strengthening of support struts, restoration of steel structures of the hull.

Before, the plant carried out a quarterly repair of the LURGI 552A roasting machine in the pellet production shop №2. Metinvest allocated about UAH 20 million for the planned scope of work.

Northern GOK – one of the largest mining and processing plant in Europe. It is part of the Metinvest group. In 2021, the plant increased production of pellets by 20.2% compared to 2020 – up to 6.35 million tons. The output of iron ore for the year increased by 5.2% – up to 13.4 million tons.