ArcelorMittal Ostrava Launches $50 Million Project to Cut Emissions
06/03/2013 - ArcelorMittal Ostrava has launched a US$50 million environment project that will cut annual nitrogen oxide emissions by at least 600 tonnes.
The investment in the Czech plant involves the de-nitrification of the site’s power plant. Construction will begin in July, with commissioning expected in early 2015. Local company ČKD PRAHA DIZ is the specialist contractor for the project.
Tapas Rajderkar, CEO and chairman of the board of directors of ArcelorMittal Ostrava said, “This project involves a technically demanding and costly solution, which will employ the best available technique for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions.”
The de-nitrification process is just one part of the overall environmental program for the power plant, which also includes the de-sulphurisation project that began in 2012. Both investment projects will be implemented while the power plant continues to operate.
The de-nitrification and the de-sulphurisation will be carried out on three boilers (boilers 8, 9 and 10). One boiler at a time will be shut down, in order to maintain the stability of energy supplies to ArcelorMittal Ostrava’s operations. "The planned investments to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, together with the de-sulphurisation project, will make our power plant one of the most environmentally friendly power and heating plants in this region," added Rajderkar.
Five contractors tendered for the contract, with ČKD PRAHA DIZ selected as the project partner. The company has longstanding experience in building power plant facilities. "Energy projects aimed at increasing the efficiency of electricity generation and reducing emissions are an important part of our strategy. We appreciate this contract, which will be a good reference for our export activities in the future,” said Jiří Bayer, sales director of ČKD Group.
ArcelorMittal Ostrava is investing a total of US$75.5m (CZK1.5bn) in the “greening” of its power plant. While the de-sulphurisation project, at a cost of US$25m (CZK500m) is being financed by ArcelorMittal Ostrava, the de-nitrification project will take advantage of a European subsidy provided by a fund administered by the Ministry of Environment. The company is eligible for the subsidy because it has fulfilled all the conditions for allocation. "In the area of energy production, we meet all the valid emission limit values for gaseous emissions and particulate matter. We intend to commission the de-sulphurisation at the beginning of 2014 and the de-nitrification at the beginning of 2015,” said Petr Baranek, chief green officer of ArcelorMittal Ostrava and director of ArcelorMittal Energy Ostrava, the company’s energy subsidiary.
