24 April 2018
The first-phase state-of-the-art facility of the sinter plant gas cleaning system is launched at Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol. The new sinter plant gas cleaning system will allow to reduce dust emissions by 90% and sulphur oxides by 43%. The equipment and technology vendor for the project was Termokimik Corporation (Italy). Investments made by Metinvest Group into the sinter plant revamp totalled USD 20 million.
An important phase of the project was completed in April. Together with the primary gas cleaning on sintering machines ##7, 8 and 9, a bag hose filter was also commissioned. Once the system is set up and tested, it will become available for a full-scale operation.
For primary gas cleaning, the Italian state-of-the-art cyclones HURRICLONE provide for primary removal of suspended particles. In the second phase of the cleaning process, the filtering equipment provides for extensive dust cleaning of the air and gas mixture, followed by the removal of sulphur compounds with the help of reagents. Substances recovered by the innovative cleaning system are re-used in the production process.
The revamp of the sinter plant at Ilyich Steel was started in 2015. This is the largest environmental project in the history of independent Ukraine. Eight out of twelve sintering machines have gone through major overhauls over the last three years to install new cyclones in the sintering zone. Cooling zone facilities in sinter building No.1 are equipped with effective French Spake electric precipitators. Bag hose filters have been commissioned on three sintering machines, and all 12 sintering machines will be connected to the new gas cleaning system before the end of 2020.
Vadim Novinsky, MP of Ukraine:
"Last year, Metinvest accounted for over 10% of all industrial investments in the country. By doing so, the company encourages all to invest into the economy and environmental projects. If local investors do nothing to develop the country, western investors will never do it either."
Yuriy Ryzhenkov, Chief Executive Officer of Metinvest Group:
"We have a clear-cut environmental modernization program for our manufacturing sites in Mariupol, which we developed in cooperation with local authorities and community. By 2020-2021, most of our facilities will be operated to best world standards in terms of emissions. There are many environmental, though in part, projects in Ukraine, however, there is no other project with the scale and such a distinct focus on ecology like the revamp of sinter plant at Ilyich Steel. We want people of Mariupol enjoy living, working and raising their children in this city. It is our goal that both the enterprises and the city prosper."
Vadym Boychenko, Mariupol City Mayor:
"The complete environmental modernization project for the sinter plant will help reduce dust emissions into the air by 90%. At that, the sinter plant will continue to operate providing jobs in Mariupol, descent salaries to its people and revenue to the city budget.