The Russian steelmaker and iron ore producer Evraz Group (Evraz) has announced that it has started the implementation of pulverized coal injection (PCI) technology in the production of pig iron at its subsidiaries West-Siberian Steel Works (ZapSib) and Nizhny Tagil Iron and Steel Works (NTMK).
The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $300 million, and as a result Evraz will be able by the end of 2012 to use steam coal as fuel for blast furnaces.
Accordingly, pulverized coal injection will allow Evraz to discontinue using natural gas in blast furnaces and to save annually up to 650 million cubic meters of natural gas at NTMK and up to 600 million cubic meters at ZapSib, while the coke consumption will decrease by more than 20 percent. The implementation of the project will also reduce the company's environmental impact.
Under the scope of the project, complexes for pulverized coal preparation equipped with modern treatment and dust aspiration facilities will be built at the steel mills. Currently, preparatory works for future construction are being carried out at the blast furnace shops.