Ukrainian steel producer Ilyich Iron and Steel Works of Mariupol (Ilyich) has restarted the construction of its pulverized coal injection (PCI) facility for its blast furnaces, in order to reduce consumption of natural gas by about 50,000 cubic meters per hour.
The equipment costing RMB 210 million ($27.1 million) for the PCI process is being supplied by China National Mineral Co. Ltd, in line with the contract concluded on May 18, 2006. However, due to the financial crisis, which resulted in production cuts and a sharp decrease in Ilyich's revenues, the installation of PCI technology at Ilyich was suspended in November 2008.
The construction of the PCI facility is now planned to be completed by 2010.