ArcelorMittal Ostrava Reducing Emissions with New Deduster
11/01/2012 - ArcelorMittal Ostrava in the Czech Republic has been using a dedusting filter installed last year to reduce dust emissions; in 2011, it reduced its PM 10 dust emissions by almost 40% compared to 2010.
It has been one year already since ArcelorMittal Ostrava started dedusting the Sinter Plant North by means of a unique fabric filter. Thanks to this particular facility the metallurgical company managed to reduce PM10 dust emissions from January to mid-October by 141 tonnes. The big advantage is that the filter is able to capture equally effectively also smaller particles and furthermore the technology of dosage of active coke and lime reduces emissions of dioxins and carbon dioxide.
The fabric filter at the larger of the two Sinter Plants positively influenced the environmental performance of the company for 2011, during which ArcelorMittal Ostrava reduced PM10 dust emissions by almost 40% compared to 2010. Historic minimum of 505 tonnes of PM10 was contributed to by all environmental investments made so far. Year-round, continuous operation of the filter will be reflected this year when ArcelorMittal Ostrava assumes to reduce dust emissions further by several tens of tonnes. The influence of the steelmaker on the environment will once again be significantly reduced.
"We have made a number of environmental investments, but the greatest result in terms of reduction of dust emissions has been achieved through this fabric filter. Measurements conducted by an independent certified company have also confirmed that the filter is able to capture, with more than 99% efficiency, even the smallest dust particles, not only the PM10, but also PM2.5 fraction. Throughout Europe, such a device, which represents the best available technology in dedusting of sinter plants, is used in only six other mills,” says Ing. Petr Baranek, Chief Green Officer.
Since 2003, the company has invested already four billion crowns in environmental projects and has achieved long-term compliance with all emission limits and emission ceilings, which are among the most stringent in Europe. In October last year, the company commissioned a dedusting facility at Sinter Plant North worth one billion. Already now it meets the emission limits based on the BAT (best available techniques) conclusions that will become effective in the EU in 2016 at the earliest. Since the privatisation, the steelmaker has reduced emissions by almost two thirds and in 2012 it expects further reduction.
ArcelorMittal Ostrava a.s. is the largest steelmaker in the Czech Republic and part of the world’s largest steel and mining group ArcelorMittal. Its annual production is 3 million tonnes of steel; about 50% of the output is exported to more than 60 countries worldwide. It employs 4,120 people, together with its subsidiaries more than 8,000 people. Average income of its employees amounted to 32,796 CZK in 2011. The sole shareholder is ArcelorMittal Holdings A.G.
