Russian steelmaker NLMK has announced that it has successfully passed an audit conducted by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), a Norwegian certification agency, to become a potential supplier of slabs for large-diameter pipe manufacturing to be used in the Nord Stream Extension Project.
DNV audited NLMK's production processes for heavy slabs of 355 mm in thickness and 2,150 mm in width. The audit confirmed that the slabs produced are of a high quality. The final approval for NLMK slabs to be used in the project is currently being prepared.
Slabs for the Nord Stream Extension Project will be produced at NLMK's basic oxygen furnace (BOF) shop No. 2 which is equipped with three BOFs, two ladle furnaces, five ladle metallurgy units, one RH degasser and five continuous casting machines.
NLMK stated that most of the audited steelmaking facilities at the Lipetsk site were built or revamped between 2008 and 2011, as part of NLMK's technical upgrade program. The construction of new steelmaking facilities and the development of secondary metallurgy and the capability to manufacture steel slabs with qualities which are unique in Russia have enabled the company to enter new sales markets.