Metinvest begins reconstruction of a furnace at Azovstal

Metinvest Group announced that it will invest about $ 1 billion in the reconstruction of blast furnace No. 4 at the Azovstal metallurgical plant, and from May 15, modernization and reconstruction of the furnace began. After the reconstruction, the blast furnace will meet the highest international environmental safety standards.

Reaching an ambitious emission limit of up to 30 mg per cubic meter of air is still in the planning stages. Dust emissions into the atmosphere will be reduced by 340 tons per year. During the renovation, new pulse-regenerated bag filters will be installed instead of the existing electrostatic precipitators. It is currently the most innovative and efficient type of gas cleaning. A powerful degassing and dedusting system will be installed at the generation points. This will provide a noticeable environmental benefit.

Thanks to the reconstruction, the duration of iron smelting will be reduced and the annual production volume in the long term will be increased to 1.5 million tons of pig iron. Technological innovations will be introduced into the furnace, which will improve energy efficiency and reduce heat losses and coke consumption. The reconstruction will cover all stages of control and management. The blast furnace will be equipped with modern instrumentation and automation and a new process control system.

Currently, preparatory activities are being carried out, which employ about 100 people a day, but it is assumed that their number can reach 2 thousand people a day. Today, a compressor station is under construction, which will serve for the new baghouse filter. Contractors have begun assembling new segments of the blast furnace shaft. Repair work directly at the iron-smelting facility will be launched in June.