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NLMK Increases Funding for Environmental Projects

03/24/2011 - Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) allocated RUR4.14 billion (almost RUR100 million up year-on-year) in 2010 toward environmental protection projects at its main production site in Lipetsk.

Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) allocated RUR4.14 billion (almost RUR100 million up year-on-year) in 2010 toward environmental protection projects at its main production site in Lipetsk, a record amount since the launch of the company’s Technical Upgrade Program. The amount also represents the highest environmental technology investment yet among Russian steelmakers.
 
Implementation of the best available technologies (BAT) has resulted in a significantly reduced environmental impact from BOF operations, with average emissions falling by 20% despite a 9.2% growth in steel production. Emissions reductions are attributed to reconstruction of the BOF off-gas ducts with a secondary emission collecting and cleaning system as well improvements to the BOF smelting process. New slag cooling technology has halved atmospheric emissions, greatly improving the environment and ecology of local communities.
 
NLMK also launched a new large-scale project at its Sinter Plant last year that incorporated reconstruction of the central aspiration system for two sintering machines. This RUR1.2-billion project will reduce the machines’ anthropogenic impact 1.4-fold within one year.
 
Over the course of 2010, the company continued to introduce state-of-the-art environmental and resource-saving technologies at its new facilities under construction. An example is the new Heat and Power Plant for Blast Furnace 7, which will allow complete recovery of metallurgical gases for power generation. The furnace itself will be equipped with the most environmentally-friendly equipment of its generation. 
 
Overall, environmental measures implemented at Novolipetsk have allowed a decrease in gross emissions by 1,400 tonnes, as well as a reduction in previously accumulated industrial waste of over 500,000 tonnes. In addition the measures have succeeded in bringing down fresh water intake from the Voronezh River by 11.1 million m3. Moreover, in 2010 Novolipetsk maintained zero discharge of industrial effluents, the latter having been discontinued in 2009 through a large-scale refurbishment of the process water supply system.
 
Since the launch of its Technical Upgrade Program in 2000, NLMK has allocated over RUR17 billion to environmental protection programs. Over the past 10 years, atmospheric impact has been cut by 22%, which has resulted in the city of Lipetsk being excluded from the list of Russia’s cities with the highest air pollution, beginning in 2005.
 
In 2010 NLMK became one of the winners of a National Environmental Award established by the Vernadsky Foundation and the RF State Duma with the assistance of the Federation Council and the Russian Government, as well as the  winner in the category “Socially conscious attitude to the environment” of a Russian companies rating made by Political and Economic Communication Agency.
 
NLMK’s Environmental Management System has been certified for compliance with international standard ISO 14001-2004. In 2010 the Company successfully passed the annual compliance audit conducted by certification authority TÜV Rheinland Cert GmbH (Germany).