Russian steelmaker NLMK Group has announced that it spent over RUB 5.7 billion ($98.99 million) on environmental projects and initiatives in 2017.
According to the company’s statement, while its steel output grew by two percent year on year in 2017, specific emissions at NLMK Group’s Russian companies decreased by 1.5 percent to 20.5 kg per metric ton of steel, water consumption decreased by eight percent, and the recycling rate for steelmaking operations was 86.9 percent.
The majority of investments in 2017 went towards projects and initiatives to improve air quality. For instance, NLMK Lipetsk upgraded gas cleaning systems at six sections at the refractory, sintering and blast furnace shops. NLMK Group's other facilities executed projects aimed at reclamation of former landfill sites, construction of sewage treatment plants and noise pollution reduction initiatives, among others.