The Russian steel producer Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) has announced that its Kaluga mini-mill, which is currently under construction, has started the installation of the main process equipment, supplied by Austria-based plantmaker Siemens VAI, for its electric arc furnace (EAF) shop.
Accordingly, the plant is to receive equipment for the EAF, ladle furnace (LF) and an eight-strand continuous caster before the end of February 2011.
At the Kaluga mini-mill, NLMK will also build new gas cleaning systems, which are to reduce emissions from the plant by at least 99 percent, and will install closed water circuits that will prevent industrial water from being discharged into water bodies.
The main process equipment supplies for the rolling facilities are scheduled for H1 2011. The light-section rolling mill will be supplied by SMS MEER.
The construction of the Kaluga mini-mill is in line with NLMK's aim to establish a state-of-the-art plant for the production of a wide range of long steel products for construction, including reinforcing and profile bars. The Kaluga mini-mill's designed capacity is 1.5 million mt per year of liquid steel and 0.9-1.5 million mt per year of rolled products.
Stages 1 and 2 of the plant are to be commissioned in H1 2012. The construction of the building structures for the plant's main shops, i.e., the EAF and rolling shops, is scheduled for completion by the end of the current year.
NLMK's Kaluga mini-mill has been included in the list of priority investment projects within the scope of Russia's Steelmaking Industry Development Strategy up to 2020.