Russian steelmaker Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works' (MMK) in-house environmental management system (EMS) study has indicated that the company reduced emissions per unit of finished steel product by 6.34 percent year on year in Q1 of the current year.
The EMS study was carried out to determine ways to improve the efficiency of environmental management. MMK reported that in the first quarter of 2011 the company's operations met applicable requirements under Russian environmental legislation as well as ISO 14001:2004 standards.
Management of atmospheric emissions is as a key component of MMK's EMS. Output of a wide range of products increased considerably in Q1 2011 compared to Q1 2010. In particular, sintered ore output increased by 9.2 percent, lime production went up by 8.8 percent, coke output surged by 9.7 percent, pig iron production moved up by 10.5 percent, crude steel production increased by 13.2 percent, and output of finished rolled products was up 11.5 percent. As a result, in Q1 this year overall emissions grew by 4.5 percent year on year, reaching 55,100 mt. At the same time, however, emissions per unit of finished products (specific emissions) decreased by 6.34 percent year on year, declining to 20.09 kg per metric ton.
Solid waste recycling also improved considerably year on year as two AMCOM-2.3 slag recycling units were put into operation last year. In Q1 this year, the volume of recycled slag (including slag dumped from previous years' operations) increased by 68.7 percent year on year, reaching 2.86 million mt. Energy consumption in Q1 2011 stood at 6.32 Gcal per metric ton of crude steel, lower than the target for the quarter of 6.65 Gcal per metric ton of crude steel.
In Q1 this year, MMK spent Ruble 786.5 million ($28.1 million) on environmental safety compared to Ruble 336.6 million ($11.2 million) in Q1 2010. The funds were primarily used for construction of water recycling systems at rolling shops No.11 and No. 4. In the reported period, the company continued construction of a neutralization unit at rolling shop No.11 and of an aspiration unit at blast furnace No.10.