The Russian mining and steel producer Evraz Group has announced the completion of the modernization of the converter shop at its Urals-based subsidiary Nizhny Tagil Iron and Steel Works (NTMK), which will increase the converter shop's annual capacity by 0.7 million mt to 4.5 million mt of steel.
Accordingly, the reconstruction of NTMK's converter No. 4 and caster No. 3, with investments totaling Ruble 1.6 billion (approx. $51 million) and Ruble 1.7 billion (approx. $55 million) respectively, was the last stage of the plant's large-scale modernization project.
Following the modernization, NTMK steelmaking facilities now consist of four upgraded converters and four continuous casting machines. Implementation of gas cleaning and extraction equipment significantly decreased emissions at the converter shop.
The total investment in the converter shop modernization amounted to Ruble 9.7 billion (approx. $313 million), and will allow NTMK to reduce the cash costs of its steel production and to provide a cleaner and safer environment for the workforce.